Dutch Shops Change Opening Times· January 18, 2010

        NIS News reported that in January of 2009, the Dutch government “is going ahead with its proposed bill to change the shop opening times act as planned. There is no majority in the Lower House for the proposal to restrict the number of Sundays on which shops may open…”

        In spite of denials that the proposal was merely an ideological gesture, the Christian Democrats who are in power, consider that “Sunday is the day of God.” Current law permits 12 Sundays per year for shops to be open. But local towns and villages can allow them to be open more Sundays per year if it is “good for local tourism.” The law does not specifically define what a tourist attraction is leaving wide opportunity for local interpretation. The bill would restrict the freedom of local councils to add shopping Sundays.

        NIS News Article