14 August 2007

THE HAGUE – There will be bigger fireworks than in previous years at the international fireworks display in Scheveningen this week. But the event will also be safer, organiser Ben Vermijs said on Tuesday.

For the first time the fireworks will be set off from a barge at sea, far away from the crowds watching the display from the boulevard.

The barge has been tested four times already this week. The floating vessel is loaded up with fireworks at the port in Scheveningen and then towed out to sea. Participants in the event will set off the fireworks remotely from in front of the Kurhaus "No one will be on or near the barge," Vermijs says.

In previous years a steel island off the pier was used to launch the fireworks. The system in use this year will allow fireworks of a heavier calibre to be set off, since they will be launched much further from the audience.

The festival is taking place for the 28th time. Six countries will be represented over the three-night event. Brazil will open the show on Thursday. As always, the Netherlands will close the show following displays from Germany, China, Spain and the UK.

Organisers are hoping for better weather than last year, when the show was a flop because of rain. Too much wind could also make the sea too choppy for the barge this year.

[Copyright Expatica News + ANP 2007]

Subject: Dutch news