Of course there should be Sunday shopping. Currently it is like living in the 3rd world. If we decide to get groceries on Sunday we need to drive 20km to the "tourist centre" of Laren, but only between 4 - 7pm. Catch up with the rest of the world Netherlands

Wow! Welcome to the 21st century! Its about time! Day of rest? What is this 1950?
How does this "hit" small shops? If they can't afford to be open on Sunday, then don't open. But not having the option to be open on Sunday is not very liberal, for "the most liberal country in the world". But if they do open on sunday, they should more than cover their costs, certainly compared to opening on a weekday. (Much more potential). But this of course depends on the type of store. But this should apply to 90% of retail stores.
Been here since 2007, and I have still not heard one valid argument why stores have to be closed on Sunday.

This will be one of the worse things ever to hit Dutch families, it ruined life in The UK as families are torn apart by members having to work and others wanting to go shopping. Accept this and kiss family unity goodbye

NO I don't favor Sunday shopping.. It may not hurt the shopkeepers, but, it sure will hurt FAMILY TIME TOGETHER.

I live in Scotland, most shops are open on a Sunday, it is the only day that a lot of workers can do their shopping, in fact if you walk down a street in any city in Scotland on a Sunday afternoon, the place is mobbed with shoppers.

One of the pleasures of coming to the Netherlands was the quiet Sundays.

With shops in cities open well beyond 8pm now, the only reason you need to shop on Sundays is because you are forgetful.

Will it actually increase turnover - or will it mean that the shops can open longer so that people can still pass them by?

Join the 21st century. It is a free market in a capitalist economy. Those who want and can open open and work and profit, those who don't want to don't open. The market chooses. Natural selection.

It is quite frightening to know that for many years, religious parties have had a strong hold on the NL government.

Even now with the long recession, it's hard to believe that a bunch of untrustworthy politicians can be bought by votes, and just to support Sunday as a day of rest to keep faith followers 'happy'..

We supposedly live in a country that calls itself 'democratic', but the real name should be 'demo-crazy', not democracy!

The guv should be working for us, lifting unnecessary bans, not making new ones, but when??

I personally love Sunday shopping but I'm lucky enough to live in one of the "big cities" where shops are open every Sunday afternoon in the centre. Perhaps small shopkeepers could be asked to voice their opinion before parliament decides. I think some might think it beneficial.

I strongly against Sunday opening, it ruin family life.

Ruin family life? That sounds a tad hysterical.

Even if not, then I think people should have the choice to "ruin" their family lives or not. And not everyone is a family.

I prefer to have the option, even if I don't always take advantage of it.

I don't understand the comments about the ruining of family life? Why would shops being open on Sundays do that? You have a choice not to shop or if you are so concerned about the family unit.....shop together!

The ruining family thing is really, really ridiculous,....I've been working years on sundays, never had a problem with it ( it will just give lot of students more opportunity to find work,.)..But now I do have a family, I don t do sundays anymore,....But think about this, I work in horeca, so I don t see my gielfriend and children any other night of the week,....Perhaps bars and restaurants should also be closed at night to preserve family time if we go all the way with this ???

I don't see how Sunday shopping will necessarily lead to "family life destruction". They are not increasing the weekly working hours. Supermarkets and other stores that already open on Sundays usually hire part-time workers to staff their stores during weekends and extended hours at weekdays.

People like college students wanting to make an extra buck are the most likely candidates for those part-time jobs.

Sunday shopping does not increase business for shops it increases costs.
For smaller premises Sunday shopping means lower turnover on Saturdays and the need to employ experienced staff at double pay on Sunday.
The shop owners then get no free days and have to work 7 days a week -
Staying closed is not an option
Yes it destroys families

Not every shop is a supermarket.

WOW! Ruin family life and family time? What are you people talking about? Onzin! That is such an absurd statement! Furthermore, if the only time have have to spend with your family is on Sunday, I would seriously reevaluate my lifestyle. Thats pretty sad to only have time to spare on Sunday to spend with your family... But still not making the connection with how stores open on Sunday ruin family.

@CW Spot on!
Besides, any kind of "family life" that needs to ban things and exercise censorship to keep itself together needs to die out. If you can't handle the heat, get out of the ... family, right? Don't instead go about and tell others - e.g. shopkeepers - what hours they can keep in their own shops.

Coming from a long standing US culture of stores being open on Sunday, I can tell you all that it has not benefited the culture over there. 'Ruining family life' is a bit extreme but there are lots of other healthy good things to do other than shopping. Unfortunately when most people are given 'the choice' that I read about as counter arguement on the Sunday shopping here quite often, they do not make a healthy choice. They do what modern marketing has brainwashed them to do - consume and shop. Quite shallow and superficial considering some of the other 'choices' in my opinion. Most people do not look into themselves and ask these important questions either I think.

How has Sunday opening "TORN FAMILIES APART" or "RUINED FAMILY LIFE" in the UK, I lived in Holland for ten years and Sunday was like being in a backward land, we have had Sunday opening for years here in Scotland and my Family are still together, It's called freedom of choice, Thank goodness I'm back to civilization and the 21st century.

The Netherlands really needs to move away from the model of 1 person working, 1 person part-time/at home as there are many of us for which this is not true. Shops open on Sunday would also provide more part-time work, and for single parents with kids in Saturday sport, a bit more breathing space!

I see VERY, VERY few comments that support the WORKERS on these extra days, but see mainly selfish, self-important comments about how it's so important for YOU to be able to shop. Try thinking about other people for once, and maybe you'll see how having to work on those days is NOT a good thing for families, not to mention stress levels.

FINALLY!!! Employ "Sunday" workers if regular staff don't want to work Sundays. Make it illegal to sack staff who wont work Sunday. In fact make Sunday just another day.

Torn Families apart...this is interesting. Closing Sundays will save families same as Closing FEBO will save people from eating junk food. Now that I mention it, maybe closing FEBO could save families from heart disease so they will be healthier and can chose what to do on Sundays...