The Belgian government has approved a significant shift in retail operating hours, allowing stores to open seven days a week until 9 p.m. Starting this summer, according to multiple French-language news reports validated by official sources.
The reform, described by officials as necessary because “the current law is no longer adapted,” marks a major change from previous restrictions that limited Sunday trading and imposed earlier closing times on weekdays.
Under the latest rules, supermarkets and other retail establishments will be permitted to operate from Monday to Sunday with extended evening hours, a move that has been confirmed by both RTL Info and RTBF as a validated government decision.
However, the change has sparked debate, with critics warning that simply extending hours will not resolve deeper structural challenges in the retail sector. One commentator was quoted as saying, “Thinking that we will solve the problem this way is nonsense,” reflecting skepticism about the reform’s effectiveness.
Despite the broader liberalization, certain restrictions remain in place. Reports from 7sur7.be indicate that, legally, supermarkets still cannot schedule staff to work Sunday afternoons, highlighting a continued limitation on weekend labor even as store hours expand.
Trade publications such as Gondola Magazine have characterized the development as definitive, stating that “the end of the weekly closing day, with hours until 9 p.m.: it’s decided!” — signaling broad industry acknowledgment of the policy shift.
The adjustment aligns with ongoing discussions in neighboring Quebec about relaxing similar retail hour restrictions, suggesting a broader trend toward modernizing shopping regulations in Francophone regions.
For consumers, the change means greater flexibility in shopping times, particularly for those with weekday work commitments. For retailers, it presents both operational opportunities and challenges related to staffing, energy costs and competition.
As the policy takes effect this summer, its impact on employment patterns, consumer behavior, and modest business viability will be closely monitored by economists and industry analysts across Belgium and beyond.
