Bakers, butchers, supermarkets and poulterers in Hoogeveen may now be open on Sundays from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. But on Christmas Day and Easter Sunday, all shops remain closed.
This was decided by the Hoogeveen city council on Thursday evening. CDA and ChristenUnie wanted the extension of shopping hours not to be at the expense of ‘rest and reflection’ on Christmas Day and Easter Monday.
Both parties believe that the shops should be closed on these two Christian holidays. PvdA, SGP and a council member of the Forum for Democracy agreed and helped the amendment to a narrow majority: 16 against 15 votes.
Corona
The agreements for the existing shopping hours in Hoogeveen date from 2013. During corona, the opening hours were already extended to allow people to do their shopping spread out. The council finalized the new agreements on Thursday evening.
A majority within the council had already asked for an extension of shopping hours on Sundays twice before, but the municipality first wanted to investigate the final adjustment with the entrepreneurs involved.
In the amended regulation, shops may also be open during Ramadan.