Professional fireworks

Apply for a permit for professional fireworks

You need permits to store and set off professional fireworks. You also have to submit a notification for some activities. Go to the online service counter Omgevingsloket (in Dutch) to check if you need an environment and planning permit. In the Omgevingsloket, you can see which rules apply in your municipality, province, or regional water authority. And you can apply for a permit or submit a notification directly.

Storage of fireworks in theatres

You have to store fireworks for theatrical use (pyrotechnical articles) safely. These fireworks include all explosive substances that create heat, light, sound, gas, and/or smoke. The requirements for storage in theatres and other locations where you perform include:

• you can store a maximum of 25 kilograms, and
• you must store the fireworks in a fire safety storage cabinet that meets the PGS 32 standard (hazardous substances publication 32, in Dutch)

The conditions for storing pyrotechnical articles for theatrical use are part of the Environmental Activities Decree (Bal, in Dutch). Do you want to store more than 25 kilograms of fireworks for theatrical use? Then you also need an environment and planning permit.

Fireworks storage liability insurance

Are you going to store professional fireworks, and perhaps consumer fireworks as well? You need to take out liability insurance. And give the certificate of insurance to the province.

Only a fireworks expert may set off professional fireworks

Your company may only have professional fireworks set off by a certified fireworks expert (in Dutch) with an application permit. This applies to:

• consumer fireworks
• professional fireworks
• explosive substances that create heat, light, sound, gas, and/or smoke (pyrotechnical articles)

The requirements for setting off professional fireworks are listed in the Regulation for the commercial ignition of fireworks (Regeling bedrijfsmatig tot ontbranding brengen van vuurwerk, in Dutch).

Applying for a fireworks application permit

Are you a certified fireworks expert? You can apply for the application permit for setting off fireworks at the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate, ILT.

Permission to set off fireworks or notification of ignition

You must apply for a permission to ignite fireworks (ontbrandingstoestemming) each time you want to set off fireworks. You have to apply to the province in which you want to ignite the fireworks.

You may only submit a notification of ignition to the province if you set off:

• a maximum of 20 kilograms of theatrical fireworks, or
• 200 kilograms of consumer fireworks, or
• a total of no more than 220 kilograms of theatrical and consumer fireworks.

Apply for permission to set off fireworks using Message Box

At this moment, it is not possible to use Message Box for businesses to apply digitally for permission to ignite fireworks or to submit a digital notification of ignition. Message Box is not yet connected to the Omgevingsloket. Message Box is a secure email system that enables business owners to exchange messages with Dutch government organisations digitally.