Stoking a fire

The rules for lighting fires changed on January 1, 2026. 

Key changes

Only organizations focused on children or young people, such as neighborhood associations, cooperating neighborhood associations, or village councils, can still be granted fire permits for campfires and fires at cultural festivities (such as St. Martin's fires). 

These organizations must have a registration number from the Chamber of Commerce or articles of association. The articles of association must include at least the name of the organization, its place of business, and its purpose (focused on children or youth). Without a Chamber of Commerce number or articles of association, heating permits will no longer be granted.

The municipal general rules have been adapted to the fire safety regulations for bonfires of the Limburg North Safety Region. The adapted rules are:

1. From the moment of ignition, at least two people from the organization must continuously supervise until the fire is completely extinguished. Both people must be adults (18 years or older), sober, and aware of the applicable general rules and regulations. They are responsible for general safety during the burning and must be available by telephone to the municipality.
2. The applicant for the permit must be available to the municipality by telephone and email throughout the entire period that the bonfire is present.
3. The heating area must be easily accessible for the fire department, police, ambulance, and other government services.
4. At least two portable fire extinguishers must be available in the immediate vicinity of the heating area. Each must have a minimum capacity of 6 kg or 6 liters of extinguishing agent. The portable fire extinguishers must be ready for immediate use on site at all times. Each portable fire extinguisher must be maintained in accordance with NEN 2559. They must also contain the correct extinguishing agent. In addition, one fire blanket, two shovels, and two buckets filled with at least 10 liters of water must be available in the immediate vicinity of the heating area.
5. The fire must be lit from above to reduce the amount of flying embers. When wind force is 4 or higher on the Beaufort scale and when there is low-lying fog, no fires may be lit.
6. When burning, at least one basic first aid kit that meets the content requirements of the Oranje Kruis must be available.
7. The pyre must be stable and constructed in one continuous structure. Only one pyre may be present. The pyre may not be replenished from another wood storage area in the immediate vicinity of the pyre.
8. The material for the bonfire may only consist of untreated wood, such as clean pallet wood or prunings.
9. The bonfire for campfires may have a maximum size of 1 m³.
10. The maximum size of the bonfire for cultural festivities is 100 m3. The maximum height of the bonfire for cultural festivities is 5 meters. Depending on the size of the bonfire, the current minimum safety distances of the Limburg North Safety Region apply. These distances must be observed.
11. Pallets and bales of straw must be used to build the bonfire. Petroleum products and/or highly flammable liquids (such as gasoline) are not permitted.
12. The fire must be extinguished by midnight on the day it is lit.
13. During a dry period, the Natural Fire Risk website must be consulted in advance. This website states whether and how the fire may be lit. Open fires are not permitted during natural fire risk phase 2.

These general rules that must be complied with when lighting fires in the open air can be found in the Implementation Rules for the General Regulation of the municipality of Leudal; _{^{Chapter 1.4 General rules for lighting fires in the open air.}}

The changes do not include:

• lighting by means of candles, torches and the like;
• ambient fires such as patio fireplaces and fire pits, if no wastes are burned;
• fire for cooking, baking and roasting.

For this, if there is no danger, inconvenience or nuisance to the surrounding area, it is still allowed without a permit.