Let off fireworks from 6 p.m. • First conference with Pieter Derks

NOS Newstoday, 06:40

Good morning! Eating donuts and celebrating New Year’s Eve is what most people are all about today. But that’s not all; Statistics Netherlands also announces how much collective labor agreement wages have risen this year.

First the weather: the day is dry and cloudy. During New Year’s Eve it will rain in the northern half of the country and there will be strong winds. New Year’s Day is wet and stormy. Then more sun and colder.

What can you expect today?

  • Statistics Netherlands announces how much collective labor agreement wages will have risen in 2024. Last year, employees improved by an average of 6.1 percent, which was the largest growth in more than forty years.
  • Fireworks may be lit from 6 p.m. Ideal weather conditions are not expected for setting off fireworks: there is a lot of wind in some places and it is certainly not dry throughout the Netherlands.
  • The island republic of Kiribati is the first in the world to celebrate the New Year. The country, 2000 kilometers south of Hawaii, is thirteen hours ahead of the Netherlands. After Kiribati, Tonga celebrates the new year, followed by New Zealand, Australia, Japan and South Korea.
  • This year, Pieter Derks will provide the New Year’s Eve conference on NPO 1 for the first time. The broadcast starts at 10:30 PM.

What did you miss?

Due to the expected stormy weather during New Year’s Eve, several bonfires were lit late last night. Groups of people came together in The Hague, Amsterdam, Wassenaar and Delft, among others, to watch the fire.

As far as is known, the organized bonfires took place without major incidents. In a number of other places in the country there were reports of burnt-out cars or burning tires last night. Arson is a common problem around New Year’s Eve.

ANP
The bonfire on the beach of Scheveningen

Other news from the night:

And then this:

A bus full of Ukrainian prisoners of war returned home just before the New Year. They were met by their relatives. More than a hundred Russians are also going home. Ukraine and Russia exchange prisoners more often, the last time was in August.

The emotional outpouring was great among Ukrainians:

Emotional reunion of Ukrainian prisoners of war with women and children

Have a nice day and wish you a beautiful 2025!

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