The Dutch people have spent an estimated €60,000,000 ($100,000,000) on fire-crackers and other pyrotechnics this year. Also there are left-overs from the previous year. Too much to burn on New Year’s Eve, so they have to start early...
It is hard to find tranquility between Christmas and the New Year. The cemetery of my home town is not exactly a fun place to be, but far better than the rest, if you ask me.