In this guide
💡 The Short Version: New Year’s Eve 2026 to 2027 is the first under the national ban on consumer fireworks, in force since 1 August 2026. Only F1 fireworks, such as sparklers, pop-pops, party poppers and small cake fountains, are legal; rockets, cakes, compound boxes and bangers are not. Amsterdam already banned consumer fireworks in the city, with fines of €100 to €750. In 2025 the municipality’s Electric Fireworks show on Museumplein drew more than 60,000 people; the 2026 programme is not published yet. The Light Festival closes at 21:00 on 31 December, the Anne Frank House closes at 17:00, and the Rijksmuseum is open. Or book a cruise: the Light Festival boat with unlimited drinks and a snackad is from £19.84 (GetYourGuide, 1 October 2026).
What the ban allows
The Wet veilige jaarwisseling, the Safe New Year Act, took effect on 1 August 2026, so the coming New Year is the first under it (Rijksoverheid, 1 July 2026).
| Fireworks | Status |
|---|---|
| F1: pop-pops (knalerwten), party poppers (knalbonbons), sparklers (sterretjes), small cake fountains (sierfonteintjes) | Legal for everyone, all year |
| F2 to F4: rockets, cakes, compound boxes, bangers | Banned for consumers to buy, hold or let off; professionals need provincial permission |
| An association’s or foundation’s display | Possible only with an exemption from the municipality, for groups with local ties |
The category is printed on the pack (Rijksoverheid, 1 October 2026). A mayor may give an exemption to a neighbourhood or sports association, a foundation or a fireworks club with local ties, and the same safety distances apply as for professionals’ shows: 15, 40 or 60 metres, by type. Each municipality decides on exemptions for itself: on 25 September 2026, 27 of the 44 municipalities in North Holland said they would grant none and 12 had yet to decide (NH Nieuws).
Amsterdam did not wait for the national law. The regional broadcaster Rodi, citing the municipality, reported a full ban on consumer fireworks in the city for 2025 to 2026, with a fine of at least €100 for carrying banned fireworks and up to €750 for letting them off, and a Halt sentence for minors (Rodi, 24 November 2025).
The midnight show
In 2025 the municipality of Amsterdam organised Electric Fireworks on Museumplein (Rodi, 24 November 2025), a light, music and fireworks show with a countdown to midnight. Its organiser counted more than 60,000 visitors, and a children’s version, Electric Fireworks Junior, at 19:00 drew more than 20,000 (electricfireworks.nl, 1 October 2026). NH Nieuws listed Amsterdam on 25 September 2026 among the cities planning a fireworks show this year (NH Nieuws).
The municipality has not published the 2026 to 2027 programme. Where it will appear: the organiser’s site, electricfireworks.nl, and the municipality’s own pages at amsterdam.nl.
If the show is on Museumplein again, the hotels in hotels near the Rijksmuseum are the closest, from 150 m: the Max Brown Museum Square, at Jan Luijkenstraat 40-46, is one (Hotels.comad).
What is open on 31 December and 1 January
Times are from each operator’s page, read on 1 October 2026. The tourist board says most museums and attractions are closed on New Year’s Day (I amsterdam, updated 11 December 2025); the Rijksmuseum and the Anne Frank House say otherwise.
| Thu 31 December 2026 | Fri 1 January 2027 | |
|---|---|---|
| Rijksmuseum | 9:00 to 17:00 | 9:00 to 17:00 |
| Anne Frank House | 9:00 to 17:00 | 12:00 to 22:00 |
| Van Gogh Museum | 9:00 to 17:00 | |
| Light Festival | Closes at 21:00; information point closed | Lights 16:30 to 23:00 |
Sources: rijksmuseum.nl, annefrank.org, vangoghmuseum.com and amsterdamlightfestival.com. The Van Gogh Museum lists its 2026 hours only. 1 January 2027 is a public holiday, a Friday. All three museums sell timed tickets; what to book before you go in Amsterdam has the rules, and Christmas and the Light Festival has the days before. A day trip by train fits the same dates badly: Royal Delft closes at 16:00 on 31 December and all day on 1 January (Delft and The Hague), and Teylers and the Frans Hals Museum are shut on 1 January (Haarlem).
Getting home
On New Year’s Eve 2025 NS ran its normal timetable until 20:00, with Schiphol reachable from Centraal until 22:00 and extra night trains from 1:00, and the GVB ran its normal timetable until 20:00, with extra ferries; its night network, with night buses, metro lines and ferries, began at 1:30 on New Year’s Day (Algemeen Dagblad, via Headliner, 31 December 2025). The 2026 timetables are not out. Plan a taxi or a hotel within walking distance, and read Amsterdam public transport for the GVB fares. The first trains to Schiphol on 1 January ran from 6:00 last year.
Where to stay
Where to stay in Amsterdam compares the areas, and every hotel adds 12.5% tourist tax on the room price before VAT. Amsterdam hotels in canal houses lists the hotels on the canals.
For the weeks before, see Christmas and the Light Festival; for the weather in January, best time to visit Amsterdam; and for the way in, Schiphol to Amsterdam Centraal.
Common questions
Are fireworks banned in Amsterdam on New Year's Eve 2026?
Yes. The national ban on consumer fireworks has been in force since 1 August 2026: rockets, cakes, compound boxes and bangers (categories F2 to F4) may no longer be bought, held or let off by consumers. Only F1 fireworks, such as sparklers, pop-pops, party poppers and small cake fountains, are still allowed. Amsterdam already banned consumer fireworks in the city before the national law.
What happens if you set off fireworks in Amsterdam?
The regional broadcaster Rodi reported in November 2025, from the municipality's rules, a fine of at least €100 for carrying banned fireworks and up to €750 for letting them off, with a criminal record entry. Under-18s can get a Halt sentence. Only F1 fireworks are legal.
Is there an official fireworks show in Amsterdam on New Year's Eve?
In 2025 the municipality put on Electric Fireworks on Museumplein, with a countdown clock and a light and fireworks show, and a children's version at 19:00. The regional broadcaster NH Nieuws listed Amsterdam on 25 September 2026 among the cities planning a fireworks show; the 2026 to 2027 programme is not published yet.
Do trains and trams run on New Year's Eve in Amsterdam?
Last year NS ran its normal timetable until 20:00 on 31 December, with extra night trains for Schiphol, and the GVB ran normally until 20:00, with its night network starting at 1:30 on New Year's Day. The 2026 timetables are not published yet.
Is the Anne Frank House open on New Year's Eve?
Yes, from 9:00 to 17:00 on 31 December. On 1 January it opens at 12:00 and closes at 22:00. The Rijksmuseum is open from 9:00 to 17:00 on both days.