Hoarding at the Albert Heijn on Sunday is not an option in Sleeuwijk. Sunday rest is sacred, so customers stand in front of a closed door on the Lord’s Day. To the dismay of the supermarket, which speaks of arbitrariness and discrimination by the municipality of Altena.
“It is difficult, because we want to be respectful of existing traditions and customs in the village,” says a spokesperson for Albert Heijn Nieuwe Es in Sleeuwijk, which wants to open on Sundays. But the supermarket stumbles upon it shopping hours decision from the municipality of Altena.
There, shops may only be opened from Monday to Saturday from six in the morning to ten at night, to protect Sunday peace.
Why does the supermarket want to open on Sundays?
All supermarkets in the municipality of Altena are closed on Sundays. Customers then have to travel ‘unnecessarily far’ to Heusden, Waalwijk, Raamsdonksveer or Gorinchem, according to the wholesaler in Sleeuwijk.
“There are people who fear that the opening of our store will break Sunday peace.”
In addition, the supermarket sees that people have time to do their shopping during the weekend. “By also being open on Sundays, we can respond to that need,” says the supermarket spokesperson.
What about Sunday rest in Altena?
The wish of the Albert Heijn in Sleeuwijk leads to varying reactions in the Brabant Bible Belt. “There are people who fear that the opening of our store will break the Sunday peace, but many customers want to be able to do their shopping close to home on Sundays,” notes the spokesperson at the cash register.
“God’s word states: after six days of labor, rest on the seventh day.”
Five years ago there was already discussion about whether shops could open on Sundays and Christian holidays in the municipality of Altena. For SGP Altena, the Sabbath, the religious day of rest, is still sacred. “God’s word states: after six days of work, rest on the seventh day,” says party leader Theo Meijboom. “We want to live by that.”
The supermarket must respect this, he believes. “Sad that the 24-hour economy has taken such a turn. The fact that supermarkets in most of the Netherlands are open on Sundays does not mean that this should become self-evident for Altena.”
Are there exceptions in the municipality of Altena?
In the Woudrichem fortress, shops are allowed to open on Sundays to accommodate tourists. But because there is no supermarket here, according to several local parties, there is no distortion of competition with the Albert Heijn in Sleeuwijk.
Catering establishments, meal deliverers and bicycle rental companies in the municipality of Altena are allowed to offer their services on Sundays. And that arrangement is arbitrary, discriminatory and insufficiently substantiated, according to the Albert Heijn in Sleeuwijk. According to them, retail is being limited.
“Being served in a restaurant does not infringe on Sunday rest, while buying an egg in the supermarket apparently does.”
“Working in a restaurant or being served there does not affect Sunday rest, while filling shelves in a supermarket or buying an egg there apparently does,” the supermarket’s lawyer writes in a letter. letter at the council of the municipality of Altena.
“While these forms of service also influence the balance between peace and quiet,” the lawyer concludes. In addition, the protection of Sunday rest would be unlawful and contrary to European rules from the Services Directive.
What steps will Albert Heijn in Sleeuwijk take?
This month, the Mayor and Aldermen will provide advice to the municipal council on how to respond to the wishes of the Albert Heijn in Sleeuwijk. “The municipal council is ultimately responsible for the shopping hours ordinance,” a municipal spokesperson said.
If the municipality of Altena is not prepared to adjust its shopping hours decision, Albert Heijn in Sleeuwijk will take legal action. “We hope to find a solution that combines freedom of choice and respect for tradition.”
