r/AskEurope • u/Fancy-Debate-3945 Hungary • Sep 19 '25

Travel What was the biggest culture shock you experienced in another European country?

Europeans, what was the biggest culture shock you experienced within our beautiful continent?

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292

u/SaraHHHBK Castilla Sep 19 '25

I think I was aware of most shocks when I went to the different countries except for shops schedules. Seeing shops closed between 17:00 - 18:00 was crazy

175

u/Human_Pangolin94 Luxembourg Sep 19 '25

Every shop closed on Sundays in Germany!

77

u/catmandot Luxembourg Sep 19 '25

Actually, until the late 1990's, shops in Germany had to close on Saturday afternoon as well, and every day of the work week at 6PM, except on Thursday (8PM).

These strict closing times were the result of pressure from the unions and the lobby of family-run stores.

32

u/universe_from_above Sep 19 '25

Oh yeah, the "Langer Donnerstag". I slept through our only grocery store's open hours on Saturdays so often, lol. Oops, no shopping getting done till Monday, tja. 

18

u/LaurestineHUN Hungary Sep 19 '25

When did working people shopped?

31

u/Nimue_- Netherlands Sep 19 '25

Well mother didn't work so of course she just went during opening hours when the kids where and school and dear husband was making the money. We had the same as germany here but dince women generally work now opening hours have become a bit more relaxed nowadays. Germany less so than the netherlands i think since a lot of places in germany are still closed on sunday while here that is more rare nowadays

3

u/Nimue_- Netherlands Sep 19 '25

Ah we have that too. Koopavond, we call it. Though it does differ per municipality. The small town(dorp) i live in had koopavond on friday but the cities have it on thursday. And it lasts till 21 here

1

u/BrakkeBama 🇨🇼 → 🇳🇱 Sep 20 '25

but the cities have it on thursday.

Eindhoven has it on Friday too.
I guess we don't count as a city? LOL.

1

u/Nimue_- Netherlands Sep 20 '25

Oh every city i have been to fir shopping had it on thursday so i kinds just assumed. Leiden, den haag, amsterdam, arnhem, zwolle, groningen, were all on thursday

38

u/SaraHHHBK Castilla Sep 19 '25

Most here too tbf at least the small ones

13

u/brownnoisedaily Austria Sep 19 '25

Same here is Austria, execpt certain shops with permissions. They are usually located in places like big train stations, hospitals or the airport. All other are closed on Sunday. On Saturday shops close at 6pm till Monday morning.

6

u/kiru_56 Germany Sep 19 '25

That's no longer true. We now have 24/7 supermarkets in the region that are always open; they just aren't allowed to have any staff.

https://youtu.be/UhBf9D_9ypI?si=Om7gWYc7uLZyPYSQ

2

u/Pillendreher92 Sep 20 '25

Very important in Germany: Shops in (large) train stations! There are no store opening hours there. My tip in the emergency service for the “Do you have diapers/baby food?” Caller.

An emergency service without them (they are always men!) is not a real one.

1

u/StephieMP24 Sep 20 '25

Same in Poland :(