Belgian mayors shut down shops over illegal goods and missed closing days

On 23 July, the mayor of Hoboken in Antwerp ordered a shop on Antwerpsesteenweg to close for one month after inspectors discovered prohibited nicotine products, disposable vapes, illegal medicines, fireworks, nitrous‑oxide cartridges, counterfeit items, expired food, serious hygiene breaches and pest evidence. The premises also lacked required price labels and a telecom licence and had previously been closed for a week.

In Sint‑Truiden, mayor Ludwig Vandenhove temporarily closed two day‑shops, Baba Market and Superette Express, for violating the mandatory weekly closing‑day rule. The closures followed inspections that confirmed the stores operated on the prohibited day, even as reforms are being discussed to abolish the rule. Vandenhove said, “Regels gelden voor iedereen” (rules apply to everyone) and warned that existing law remains in force until officially published.