If you open at different times than usual on a particular day, add this on Google as “Special hours”: in your Google Business Profile under “Edit profile” and “Hours”. Otherwise Google only knows your regular hours, and customers find your door locked or do not know that you are open on Sunday.
Which dates are coming up in Dessau-Roßlau?
The city’s official gazette (Amtsblatt No. 11/2026 of 30 October 2026) lists these dates for the coming weeks:
- 23 November to 23 December 2026: Dessau Advent market.
- Sunday, 29 November 2026: Sunday shopping in the city centre.
According to Visit Dessau and the Rathaus-Center, the announced hours are 13:00 to 18:00. The city sets the binding hours in a separate general order; it was not yet in Amtsblatt 11/2026. The framework comes from the Saxony-Anhalt shop opening hours act: no more than four such Sundays and public holidays a year, no more than five consecutive hours between 11:00 and 20:00. You do not have to open. Anyone who opens for longer than allowed risks a fine of up to 15,000 euros.
Then there are the public holidays. In Saxony-Anhalt, 25 and 26 December, 1 January and 6 January (Epiphany) are public holidays. Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve are not public holidays, but many businesses still close early on these days.
How do I add special hours on Google?
This is how Google describes it in the Business Profile help:
- Go to your Business Profile.
- Select “Edit profile”, then “Hours”.
- Next to “Special hours”, select “Edit”.
- Choose the date: review a date that Google suggests, or create your own with “Add a date”.
- Enter the hours. If your business stays closed, tick “Closed”.
- Select “Save”.
Important: The special hours only show if your profile is set to “Open with main hours”.
Closed between Christmas and New Year: what do I enter?
Google distinguishes by length:
| How long closed? | What you enter on Google |
|---|---|
| up to 6 days in a row | “Special hours”, each day set to “Closed” |
| 7 days or longer | Mark the profile as “temporarily closed” |
An example: if you close from 24 December to 3 January, that is eleven days. Google then recommends “temporarily closed”. Set the profile back to open afterwards.
Do I have to enter public holidays when nothing changes?
Yes, Google recommends it. You should confirm your hours for public holidays, even if they stay the same. This shows customers that your details are correct.
Checklist for November to January
- 29 November: Are you open on the Sunday shopping day? Then enter the hours as soon as the city has set them.
- 24 and 31 December: Closing early? Enter it.
- 25 and 26 December, 1 and 6 January: Confirm the holidays, even if you are closed anyway.
- Company holidays: up to 6 days via special hours, from 7 days “temporarily closed”.
- The same everywhere: website, answerphone and the notice on your door show the same hours as Google.
Frequently asked questions
How far in advance can I add special hours? Google’s help does not give a deadline. Enter the hours as soon as you know them.
I am always closed on Sundays and will not open on 29 November. Do I need to change anything? No. Your regular hours already say that you are closed on Sundays.
Does this also apply to trade businesses and practices? Yes. The shop opening hours act covers retail outlets. Public holidays and company holidays affect every business with a Google profile.
How we help
We set up Google profiles for businesses from Dessau-Roßlau and the region and put their business details in order, so that Google finds the same information everywhere. More on this under SEO & Local SEO. Why the profile often brings more calls than the website is explained in Google Business Profile for Tradespeople. We explain terms like Google Business Profile in the glossary.
Sources
- City of Dessau-Roßlau: Amtsblatt No. 11/2026 of 30.10.2026, page 14 (Advent market, Sunday shopping) and pages 52–53 (general order under § 7 LÖffZeitG LSA, with framework, note and fine) (dessau-rosslau.de, German)
- Google Business Profile Help: How to set special hours (accessed 04.11.2026)
- Saxony-Anhalt Sundays and Public Holidays Act (FeiertG LSA), § 2 (landesrecht.sachsen-anhalt.de, German)
