Big BooomVlog - Dutch DIY Fire Crackers

Big BooomVlog - Dutch DIY Fire Crackers

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In the sparsely populated rural province of Drenthe in northern Holland, the young farmers gather on the village green of Dwingeloo and set off their do it yourself fire crackers in the week preceding new year. As always, the bigger the bang the better the cracker. Commercially available fire works obviously no longer suffice so these guys make their own. In this old custom they usually use old milk cans as a combustion chamber. They add carbite and water, which forms a highly explosive mixture when ignited. The resulting explosion produces a loud big bang and a pretty decent shock wave which shakes you to your marrow. The sound can carry more than 20km across the fields and if you want to hear anything the next day it’s best to wear ear protection. The continuous improvement of the crackers has culminated in the cannon seen in the clip. Naturally this practice is strictly forbidden by law - although the police traditionally make no effort to spoil the fun. If fireworks are supposed to drive the evil spirits away – you can be sure that their ain’t none around here no more!

Happy New Year - DutchVlog - Both shaken and stirred.