fireworks

The first hour in the New Year, we all looked up for the colorful explosions blasting into the sky. Different, but not less beautiful for those who look down to the ground on New Year's morning, the remains of Chinese rolls and Bengal fire are smoldering in the streets. Ashes, clay and papers scattered in a colorful mosaic across the tarmac, astonishing us with the beauty of decay: earth colors, ash black, burnt grey clay.

1. Fireworks 4_antoon loomans (2)

2. Fireworks 12_antoon loomans (2)

3. Fireworks 15_antoon loomans (2)

4. Fireworks 17_antoon loomans (2)

5. Fireworks 1_antoon loomans (2)

6. Fireworks 3_antoon loomans (2)

7. Fireworks 16_antoon loomans (2)

8. Fireworks 18_antoon loomans (2)

9. Fireworks 20_antoon loomans (2)

New Years Day 2026

Are the first hours of 2026 the last time private people are allowed to set off fireworks in The Netherlands? Parts of our cities turned into a war zone. Too little self-restraint, too many heavy fireworks,  too many accidents, too many attacks on emergency personnel, police, and firefighters. Also this cobra is biting our tails.

Nevertheless, the silence of decay, the firecrackers arrangements after the blasts, has some kind of beauty, a goodbye bouquet of some of the hotspots in my hometown.