Nijmegen police seize heavy fireworks from four homes
Parents found the fireworks with their children and called police, who say the young people will have to report to Halt, the youth diversion service, under a ban in force since 1 August 2026.
Police in Nijmegen seized fireworks from four homes on Tuesday after parents found them with their children and called officers. Officers found fireworks under the beds in the children's bedrooms.
The haul included heavy category F4 fireworks, such as shells (mortar bombs). Police say these carry life-threatening risks. They say the young people probably bought the fireworks via social media and then stored them in the house. All of it was seized.
The young people will soon have to report to Halt. Since 1 August 2026, possessing, buying or setting off all types of fireworks except category F1 has been banned. Police warn that a referral to Halt or a criminal record can follow.
Police say fireworks can sometimes be as heavy as an explosive, and that storing them in homes is life-threatening and a major risk to residents and the neighbourhood. They thanked the parents for reporting, saying they may have prevented dangerous situations.
Police ask anyone who suspects fireworks are being stored, traded or transported nearby to call 0900-8844, or to tip anonymously through Meld Misdaad Anoniem on 0800-7000.
More on safety and emergencies · crime and the courts
Halt
Halt is a Dutch organisation that offers young people who commit minor offences, such as vandalism, shoplifting or possessing fireworks, an alternative to prosecution. Instead of a criminal case, the young person is referred to Halt, carries out a sanction such as a task, a workshop or a conversation about their behaviour, and the case can then be closed without a criminal record. A referral to Halt is therefore a first, lighter response from the justice system for first-time, minor offences.