[Analysis] : Extension of opening hours in Belgium: What will be the impact?

Starting next Thursday, all stores in Belgium will be allowed to open seven days a week, until 9 p.m. In practice, however, this won’t be the case everywhere. Moreover, labor laws pose an obstacle. Is there a level playing field?

Societal trend

The Belgian government’s plan to abolish the mandatory closing day for stores and relax the rules on opening hours is now a reality: the amendment to the law has been published in the Belgian Official Gazette and takes effect next Thursday, August 13. From then on, all stores can, in theory, open every day—and stay open an hour longer, until 9 p.m. Whether they will actually do so is another question.