Fireworks at Rotterdam’s Erasmus bridge to go ahead after all

The fireworks display at the Erasmus bridge in Rotterdam is set to take place this New Year’s Eve after all. Rotterdam’s city council has decided to provide funding for the event.

Rotterdam city council saves New Year’s Eve fireworks show

Last year, the municipality of Rotterdam announced that it would no longer fund the National Fireworks show at the Erasmus bridge due to budget cuts. After a fundraising campaign to save the display failed to raise enough money, the New Year’s Eve fireworks show was cancelled. 

However, two days of debate and several proposals to save the event later, the Rotterdam city council voted to release reserve funds to make sure the fireworks display takes place this year. Only the Party for the Animals (PvdD) opposed the motion.

These municipal funds will be combined with the 100.000 euros raised in crowdfunding efforts to finance the show, which costs close to 1 million euros to run.

National Fireworks in Rotterdam to go ahead

The funding comes just in time, as the deadline to order the fireworks from the Spanish manufacturer was already pushed back by a week. Now the city can place the order and make the show happen. 

Organisers of the Rotterdam fireworks show are relieved that the event has been saved. "We were very surprised that the budget was cut, especially with a complete fireworks ban in sight. This is best for Rotterdam, also in terms of nuisance in the rest of the city," Jasper Scholte told NOS. "Besides, the fireworks bring people together. All Rotterdammers are on the quay. It's a nice way to put Rotterdam in the spotlight during the winter months."