No Easter Bonfires in Aa en Hunze This Year

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The traditional Easter bonfires in the municipality of Aa en Hunze will not take place this year. Due to ongoing drought conditions, the risk of wildfires is too high. As a result, the municipal executive has decided to cancel all fifteen planned bonfires.

The safety region has raised the wildfire risk level for Drenthe to ‘extra alert’. This means stricter rules now apply to lighting open fires, including increased required distances from nature reserves and thatched-roof buildings. None of the designated sites in Aa en Hunze meet these new safety requirements.

With little to no rainfall expected in the coming weeks, the dry conditions are likely to persist. This significantly increases the danger of wildfires starting and spreading rapidly. Given the circumstances, the municipality saw no other option than to cancel the events. Organisers have already been informed.

Mayor Anno Wietze Hiemstra called the decision “deeply unfortunate” for everyone involved in the preparations. “Sadly, the weather has thrown a wrench in the works. It’s beyond our control and a huge disappointment, but of course, safety comes first.”