Shopping on All Saints' Day: Siegen-Wittgensteiners flock to Hesse

The border region is booming

On the Day of the Dead, retail trade in the Hessian border region is booming. The reason for this is the different regulations on store openings in Hesse and North Rhine-Westphalia.

While the shops in NRW are closed on public holidays, they are usually open on Sundays and public holidays in Hesse - with a few exceptions such as Christmas.

This difference attracts numerous shoppers from the Siegen-Wittgenstein district to the neighboring Hessian cities of Bad Laasphe, Bad Berleburg and Biedenkopf on public holidays throughout the year.

Shopping spree on All Saints' Day

All Saints' Day is one of the most important shopping days of the year, along with the four Advent weekends.

Many people use the holiday to buy Christmas presents, decorations, or food for the upcoming holidays.

The fact that the shops in North Rhine-Westphalia are closed on this day makes the Hessian border region a popular destination for shopping.

Full car parks and long queues

The consequences are felt above all in the border towns, where car parks are full and long queues form in front of the shops on public holidays.

The retailers are also satisfied with the large crowds of people.

They benefit not only from the day-trippers from North Rhine-Westphalia, but also from the locals, who often do their weekly shopping on public holidays.

Border trade has a long tradition

The border trade between Siegen-Wittgenstein and Hesse has a long tradition.

Already in the Middle Ages, people from the Siegerland traveled to the neighboring Hessian cities to buy goods.

Today, the border region is still characterized by lively trade, which is particularly noticeable on public holidays.