Shops in Holland can now open on Sunday, by claiming to celebrate the national holidays of all the other countries in the world
(Any excuse for a party: The burning of Jan Hus)
A supermarket in Amsterdam has won a court case, enabling it to open on each Sunday of the year. Traditionally, it was illegal for shops to open on Sundays, because it was the Christian day of rest. Later, the trade unions were against shops doing business on Sundays, because of labour exploitation issues.
These days, both churches and unions have lost most of their power, so shops are finding ever more creative ways to be allowed to trade on Sundays.
This supermarket in Amsterdam has found an interesting loophole, which enables shops to open on certain types of holidays.
So, with the help of a truly spectacular international party calendar, they have found one special holiday for each and every Sunday in the year.
Like the Czech national Jan Hus day – a protestant leader who was burnt at the stake, by the way…
…and the Malaisean national holiday…
…and the Belgium hop fest.
Which means that this shop will indeed be open each Sunday of the coming year – apart from the actual Christian holidays, of course.
(Thaipusam: Coming to a supermarket near you?)
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