Five supermarkets from Deventer are being taken to court for illegally opening on Sundays, the Telegraaf reports on Tuesday.
According to the grocery sector association, the verdict will be of major significance nationwide. It is the first time that supermarkets have been actually taken to court for breaking Sunday trading rules.
Shops may only open on every Sunday if they are considered to be in tourist areas. But the law is routinely flouted and there are a number of other loopholes. Government plans to tighten up the regulations have been delayed because of the economic crisis.
The Deventer case revolves around the city council’s decision to grant four supermarkets opening permits even though 12 applied to do so. The five facing court, which includes Plus and Dirk van den Broek, have refused to pay council fines for opening anyway.
The court is due to announce its findings on April 27.
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