One thing which is not clear to me is WHY the law of not opening on Sundays is required. Surely, if a supermarket wants to open on Sunday or for 24 hours, it's a decision for the business in question. ?

By Expat_In_NL | March 2, 2010 8:41 AM

Hands Off from Sunday working stores! I hate saturday shopping, i go to "church" and hang out with family on Saturday because i've just had long week behind me, and on Sunday i go shopping for food or clothes or anything else.
I'm singing wherever it's needed to sign to stop Dutch for imposing idiotism on themselves. Smart people and nice country otherwise!

By Jon | March 2, 2010 9:07 AM

I see....between the lines...the slow but sure hand to dictate to everyone what day is sacred, and when they should worship is beginning. the mark.

By snoepje | March 2, 2010 12:06 PM

I bet people from normal countries that treat sundays normally (UK, USA even Ireland ffs) are perplexed and laughing in equal measures at the mess that this sunday shopping situation in the Netherlands really is.

By john | March 2, 2010 12:39 PM

Another fine example of over regulation in the Dutch market.

Sot he government wants to tell me when I can shop, where I can get medical care, spy on me when I drive (i.e. the new proposed GPS in your car), and all the while tax the living hell out of me to pay for layabouts and immigrants to live off my earnings and hard work!!

I think its high time my wife and I packed our things and left this godforsaken country.

By Caycu | March 2, 2010 1:05 PM

When will the govt wake-up. If they allow companies to open whenever and for how long they like, it means that there will be more people in employment because they'll have to staff these stores in the first place.

But no....the Dutch govt would rather NOT be secular, force us to live in a country where everything is closed on a Sunday (so people can go to church...yeah right) and have people on the dole rather than allowing companies create employment by offering services to the general public.

It's the same stupidity that forces shops to close at 6pm, when everyone else leaves the office, and therefore forces everyone to take part in the horrible Saturday crush in the supermarkets and streets!!!

Idiots!

By Caycu | March 2, 2010 2:02 PM

@ Caycu: If it were a godforsaken country we would all be able to shop on Sunday:-P

By AW | March 2, 2010 2:12 PM

I'm not 100 percent sure but I suspect the Sunday closing rule has some religious connotation, which I believe is the same reason why we don't have a Sunday edition to any of our newspapers.

By Buzzer | March 2, 2010 3:53 PM

Surely if there were no demand, people wouldn't shop on Sunday. And even if one could shop on Sunday, one could still stay out of the stores if they so wished. It's win-win: perhaps the stores would be more bearable for them on Saturdays as a result.

I feel as if there's some covert attempt to "save" me and I don't appreciate it.

And if they want to raise tuition fees and cut student grants, at least give these kids the extra opportunity to make money!

By CW | March 2, 2010 3:54 PM

To John.(12.39pm). In the UK you cannot get a drink in the pubs after 10.30pm on any given day...

By Pavaneguy | March 2, 2010 4:25 PM

Coming from a country that treats Sundays as "normal" I don't mind that most supermarkets are closed. At first it was a huge inconvenience because I can work very long hours including Saturdays but I learned to organise my routine around it. I think preventing people from working so much adds to the relaxed but efficient culture here. NL full-time employees currently work on average the least of any developed nation (37.5 hours).... do you really want it to become like the UK, USA or let alone Australia (the highest at 43.5 hours!!)? Good on the government for interfering and preventing people from working themselves to death and giving everyone some time to actually spend with their friends, family or community.

By James | March 2, 2010 4:58 PM

Seems to me with all the troubles the churches are having with personnel, the grocery store may be a safer place to hang out....

By Whatwouldmomsay | March 2, 2010 5:21 PM

Hi all I agree with you all. In the UK we have 24 hour shopping and Sunday opening. We found it great!. The Supermarkets had staff in their buildings anyway and now they earn income too.

As for Deventer. I find it strange some supermarkets get permission others not. Regualtion for some and not others. Where is teh European Union when you need them? This is against Euro law surely? But then again why try and stop this crazy regualation when so many other goods have stange and illegal taxes (BPM) and there are cartels operationg. The UK went through the pain to deregulate, it would be better for the cinsumer if that happened here. Remember that when you all vote !

By jd | March 2, 2010 8:27 PM

This is quite interesting to say the least. I haven't been here all that long, and already resent the fact that I cannot shop here on sundays. Give the store owners a break and consider this a great service to The Netherlands! OPEN SHOPS ON SUNDAYS!!

By Kim | March 3, 2010 7:39 AM

They should also fine any church opening on Sundays.

By Benito Camelas | March 3, 2010 10:16 AM

I have been living here for 17 years and have always found it difficult not to be able to go shopping on Sundays or have the Sunday paper. I believe the law stems from the fact that the Dutch believe there are strict working hours and anyone that does not conform is a heretic. If you want to do something on Sunday the only acceptable thing is to garden.

By Ames | March 3, 2010 11:48 AM

If they want to put a total stop to Sunday shopping they should make the stores stay open to a reasonable hour like 19.30. This way people who work 5 days a week (expats mostly) can actually do their shopping.
In Italy stores are closed on Sundays in most cities and no one complains. In the North shops close at 19.30 (even on Saturday!!!!!) and in the South at 20.00. In summer in the South, shops close for longer at lunch and then close at 21.00. No one minds the lunch time or the Monday morning closing because they can always do their shopping in the evening after work.
When I go home to Italy, at around 16.00 I start panicking because I haven't got everything done and then I remember that I still have at least 3 1/2 hours left and relax.

By LS | March 3, 2010 2:12 PM

I lived in Utrecht for a year and found it really strange not to be able to go to the shops on Sundays. I would have to cycle to the station to get essentials at AH if I forgot to buy something. I don't see the point of it. Let people who want to shop have that choice.

By Safer | March 4, 2010 2:56 PM

thats why i like greeks,nobody dare with the greeks moral laws and ways of life's even though you live in greece for dozens of years.SUNDAY is a holy day in every country that is founded based on CHRISTIAN FAITH ,just like netherland was.... 2ND TIMOTHY= CHAPTER 3 VERSE 1 TO 5....Am in support of keeping sunday holy for all men to go and worship GOD ,see families and friends...nothing else.

By mikel | March 4, 2010 5:02 PM

sunday is normal day i.e 1st day of the week of no special importance.The 7th day saturday which is YAHWEHS day and SABBATH is the day i observe, NOT sunday bowing to the sun.

By Noel Murphy | March 13, 2010 1:29 PM

Jon, you say, "Hands Off from Sunday working stores!" Then do what you choose, but quit advocating that all of society conform to your preference. Do you believe in liberty of conscience or do you not?

By Johnny Trainor | March 31, 2010 3:25 PM