Shops in the center of Rotterdam do not have to close at 6 p.m. this Friday, the day before Sinterklaas. Shops may be open until 8 p.m., Rotterdam mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb said on Thursday after fierce criticism from the city council.
Shops in the center of Rotterdam do not have to close at 6 p.m. this Friday, the day before Sinterklaas. Shops may be open until 8 p.m., Rotterdam mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb said on Thursday after fierce criticism from the city council.
Earlier on Thursday, Aboutaleb canceled the late night shopping. He hopes that the earlier closing at the end of the day will mean that it will be less busy in the shopping areas.
The shops now have to close a little earlier than normal. The last customers can enter at 7 p.m. and must be outside by 8 p.m. at the latest. The municipality will look closely at how the Friday evening goes and adjust the policy for subsequent shopping evenings.
“We did not properly assess the massiveness with which young people came to the center of the city on Black Friday,” said Aboutaleb earlier today. According to him, the youth was present in large numbers “to look for entertainment”.
The youngsters became rowdy and lit fireworks. After consulting the police, the mayor decided to close the shops earlier on Black Friday (November 27).
The mayor of Rotterdam will use a video to encourage people to do their shopping earlier in the day or to go to shops outside the center. He points out that parking garages in the center charge a reduced rate during off-peak hours.
Last weekend also too busy in Eindhoven and Dordrecht
Last weekend it was also too busy in Eindhoven and Dordrecht, which meant that shops there too had to close earlier. Amsterdam and a number of other municipalities called during the day to stop coming to the center.
Retailers in the center of Rotterdam had focused on extending opening hours to spread the crowds.
