For the time display in America often a 12-hour clock and not the 24-hour time is used.
00:00 - 11.59 hour is AM (ante meridiem)
12.00 - 23.59 hour is PM (post meridiem)
9.00 uur [nine hours] = 9.00 a.m. [nine a.m.]
14.00 uur [fourteen hours] = 2.00 p.m. [two p.m.]
When the 24 hour system is used, it looks like this:
9.00 uur [nine hours] = 9.00 hrs [nine hundred hours]
14.00 uur [fourteen hours] = 14.00 hrs. [fourteen hundred hours]
Time differences with the U.S.
The time difference with America depends on where you are. From East (New York) to West (San Francisco) there are four timezones:
EST – Eastern Standard Time
CST - Central Standard Time
MST - Mountain Standard Time
PST - Pacific Standard Time
* Alaska en Hawaii have their own timezone:
AKST - Alaska Standard Time
HAST - Hawaii Standard Time
Openingshours
Shops
Opening hours varies from store to store, typical hours are as follow:
Monday - Saturday from 9 a.m. till 10 p.m. Sundays from 12 a.m. till 17 p.m.
In many large malls shops are open 7 days a week from 10 a.m. till 9 p.m. Some supermarkets are open 7 x 24 hours but are closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Banks
Monday - Friday from 9 a.m. till 3 p.m. and sometimes also on Saturday mornings.
On airports bank branches are often open longer.
Post offices
Monday - Friday from 8 a.m. till 5 p.m. Saturday from 8 a.m. till 12 a.m.
Government institutions:
Monday - Friday from 10 a.m. till 4 p.m.
Holidays
Banks, Post offices, libraries and other public offices are closed on the National holidays. Shops and restaurants can also be closed or they have adapted opening hours.
January 1 - New Year's Day
third Monday in January - Martin Luther King Day
third Monday in February - Presidents Day
last Monday in May – Memorial Day
July 4 - Independance Day
first Monday in September – Labor Day
second Monday in October - Columbus Day
November 11 – Veteran’s Day
fourth Thursday in November - Thanksgiving Day
December 25 – Christmas Day
The second Easter, Pentecost and Christmas day are not holidays in the U.S. It is a regular labor day and shops are open.
- Apart from the National holidays some states have their own local State-holidays.
