Beyond year-end festivities, the mayor also presented the latest demographic figures for the capital. After several years of steady growth since the Covid pandemic, the number of births has declined for the first time, with around 200 fewer births compared with last year, Polfer said. A similar trend was observed in marriages, with 520 couples tying the knot in 2025, around 60 fewer than in 2024.
Attention then turned to outdoor and social infrastructure projects. Three new walking trails in Bambësch were presented, each measuring around 10 kilometres. At the same time, several rooms for short stays at the Konviktsgaart have been renovated, according to the mayor.
The rooms are intended for “people who are considering moving into the Konviktsgaart care home, but who would first prefer to try it out, or also for families who have a person at home whom they normally look after but who, for one reason or another, have to go away and can then accommodate them there for a week, a few weeks, or up to three months”.
Returning to the topic of New Year’s Eve, Polfer reiterated that no fireworks are planned by the City of Luxembourg and that private individuals are not permitted to set off fireworks or firecrackers for safety, environmental, and animal welfare reasons. Exceptions are only possible with an exceptional authorisation from the municipality.
“I think we grant those very rarely to private individuals. Why is it particularly dangerous now? When you are in streets that are very narrow and where people, for example, have tents or something made of wood, it can very quickly happen that a fire breaks out and really significant damage occurs. That is why I can only advise against doing it”, the mayor said.
Finally, Polfer highlighted the success of the city’s Christmas markets, describing them as enormous and growing year on year. This momentum has been reinforced by the start of the Christmas holidays and the opening of the Winterkids Village on Place Guillaume II, which offers workshops, performances, and concerts specifically for children.
Editor’s note: Keep an eye on the website for an upcoming article detailing the rules in all municipalities, including where fireworks are permitted, where they are banned, and the time frames in places where their use is allowed.
