Don't Make Eye Contact With the Tweens

I know it's a strange title for a Happy New Year post but that was the warning we received from multiple sources when preparing for New Year's Eve.  We live close to Nieuwmarkt and it evidently had a reputation for being the place where teenagers hung out to launch their fireworks and if you make eye contact with a teenager they might throw their firework at you. 

The fireworks started going off as soon as it was dark and we braved the neighborhood to see what the noise was all about and appreciating more the safety and warmth of hour apartment overlooking the canal.  Fireworks went off up to to midnight and a couple hours after.  We even got a good view of some just right outside our window. 

I guess a canal would be one of the safer places to launch fireworks.  We're happy to have this view.  It was a bit foggy New Year's Eve and I was fearing it'll be another year when we wouldn't see anything like our first NYE in Seattle.  It was a nice start to 2020 and we're looking forward to seeing what this new year brings.  Gelukkig nieuwjaar!