Amsterdam rewards corona-proof ideas for New Year's celebrations

Each week in December, the most creative one will get 1500 euros

New Year’s Eve is probably the most anticipated event in the annual calendar. Be as it may, this year, due to the coronavirus pandemic and the national ban on fireworks display in the Netherlands, the holiday will look completely different.

Different, however, does not necessarily mean worse – with all the imagination and creativity that the Dutch are famous for, they can surely turn the extraordinary circumstances into a triumph of the human spirit. This is the idea behind the latest challenge offered by the Municipality of Amsterdam.

As part of New Year's Eve Challenge, the local authorities and the platform 'What Design Can Do' will give 1500 euros a week to the most creative corona-proof celebration ideas from young people, that do not involve fireworks and also comply with the sanitary restrictions in place.

Safe does not mean boring

Firework projections on building facades displayed from a cargo bike; neighbourhood meetings on the balconies for the countdown to 00:00 – this and many other ideas are among the proposals for a safe and original celebration that have come up from the Amsterdam youth. The city wants to further boost this innovative thinking and stimulate young people to bridge traditional and new forms of celebration. All ideas, big and small, are welcome.

The Mayor of Amsterdam, Femke Halsema said on the occasion that “With this challenge, we want to provoke young Amsterdammers to use their creativity for a festive and cosy, corona-proof and firework-free New Year's Eve. We hope that the best ideas will circulate and be followed in the city so that we can look back on a unique and safe New Year's Eve celebration.”

In order to participate and win up to 1500 euros for the realisation of your idea, you can share it via Instagram with the hashtag #oudennieuwchallenge. Every week, until 31 December, a jury will select 5 winners from among the entries. The conditions and criteria for participation are explained on the website of the campaign (in Dutch).

This is where you can see the ideas that have been submitted so far and get inspiration for your own safe and sustainable New Year celebrations, no matter which city you live in.