News: shops will be allowed to stay open until 9 pm, and the mandatory weekly closing day will be abolished

The Council of Ministers, in line with the coalition agreement, discussed and approved on 24 April 2026 the proposal from the Minister of the Self-employed, SMEs and Independent Professions (Eléonore Simonet) to relax the opening hours for retail trade.

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What will change?

Shops will be able to stay open every day (not just on Fridays) until 9:00 p.m.
Shops can choose to open 7 days a week as the mandatory weekly closing day will be abolished.
Clearer rules will be introduced for mixed activities, where only some parts are subject to the legislation on opening hours.
It will also be clarified which activities these rules do not apply to, such as services.

From when will this apply?

The approved proposal will now be submitted to parliament and will apply after publication in the Moniteur belge. This may happen before the start of the summer holidays.