Belgian Shops Can Now Open 7 Days a Week as Mandatory Closing Day Is Abolished
Belgian supermarkets and retail stores may now open seven days a week, following the abolition of the mandatory weekly closing day that took effect on August 13. The federal government also extended permitted closing hours from 20:00 to 21:00 on all days, responding to changing consumer expectations and the rise of e-commerce. While large retail chains welcome the increased flexibility, small independent retailers have voiced significant concerns about the impact on their businesses and work-life balance.
The reform, championed by Minister of Middle Classes, Self-Employed and SMEs Eléonore Simonet, was included in the coalition agreement of the De Wever government and first announced in July 2025. It was approved by the Council of Ministers in April and passed through parliament before the summer, with the official decision dating back to April 23.
What the New Rules Mean in Practice
The measure is permissive, not mandatory. Retailers retain the freedom to set their own opening hours, and stores that choose not to extend their hours are unaffected. “This is not an obligation,” Simonet emphasized. “Stores may stay open longer, but they don’t have to.”
According to sector experts, the biggest practical change will be felt on Monday mornings. Many supermarkets previously closed from Sunday afternoon through Monday midday to fulfill their mandatory 24-hour rest period. They can now reopen on Monday morning.
However, the labor law (arbeidswet) still prohibits employing workers on Sunday afternoons, meaning most supermarkets cannot open on Sunday afternoon without violating labor regulations. Small neighborhood shops—bakeries, butchers, and food stores with fewer than five employees—along with newsagents, tobacco shops, florists, and stores in recognized tourist centers may still employ staff on Sunday afternoons.
Small Retailers Express Concerns
Luc Ardies, Managing Director of Buurtsuper.be, the organization representing independent supermarkets, is skeptical about the benefits of extended hours. “The consumer cannot eat more sandwiches than he already eats,” Ardies said. “Staying open longer also brings extra costs: think of staff and energy. And at the end of the day, the balance sheet needs to end in the green.”
Ardies noted that sales typically decline after 7 PM, questioning whether the extra opening hours will generate sufficient returns. “In practice, not much will change for most supermarkets,” he said. “The biggest change is on Monday morning.” He also highlighted the difficulty of finding staff willing to work weekends, stating: “It is extremely difficult to find people willing to work the entire weekend.”
The Neutraal Syndicaat voor Zelfstandigen (NSZ), the independent association for self-employed people, has been equally critical. Spokesperson Cedric Tack described the reform as “a gift for multinationals, a poisoned gift for small independents.” He pointed out that a store can already be open 81 hours per week and warned that small businesses will be forced to follow the big players to remain competitive, incurring extra costs on top of existing staff shortages.
Large Chains Poised to Benefit
According to Stijn Baert, Professor of Labor Economics at Ghent University, the consumer is the big winner of this reform. “The consumer is served at their every whim,” he said. Baert noted that large companies can organize themselves fairly easily to deploy flexible workers and operate at later hours and on Sundays.
For small retailers, Baert said they face a stark choice: “Either compete during the extra hours or give up market share.”
Gino Van Ossel, Professor of Retail Management at Vlerick Business School, predicted a competitive dynamic among the major chains. “In a free market, someone will always decide to stay open longer because customers expect it,” he said. “If Lidl soon opens on Sunday, Aldi will feel compelled to follow.” Indeed, Aldi and Lidl have already announced plans for Sunday morning openings, with Aldi targeting all stores and Lidl starting with about half of its 150 locations.
Labor Law Tensions Remain
Union representatives have pointed to ongoing violations of Sunday work regulations. Kristel Van Damme, retail sector representative for ACV Puls, stated that “half of the Delhaize stores ignore the Sunday law. That’s no longer a gray zone, that’s pure lawlessness.” She added that fines are not proportional to the profits made from violations.
Minister David Clarinval plans to discuss labor law issues with the retail sector after the summer, though no formal revision is currently planned. As Business AM reported, the labor law remains a significant obstacle to full Sunday afternoon openings.
What to Watch For
The coming months will reveal how many retailers actually extend their hours and whether the competitive pressure forces more stores to open on Sundays. The RetailDetail analysis suggests that busy tourist areas and coastal regions will embrace longer opening hours, while many local shops will maintain traditional schedules. With ongoing labor shortages and the question of Sunday work still unresolved, the full impact of Belgium’s retail liberalization will unfold gradually.