Municipalities of Belgium
Encyclopedia
Belgium
comprises 589 municipalities
(Dutch
: gemeenten, French
: communes, German
: Gemeinde) grouped into five provinces in each of two region
s and into a third region, the Brussels-Capital Region, comprising 19 municipalities that do not belong to a province. In most cases, the municipalities are the smallest administrative subdivisions of Belgium, but in municipalities with more than 100,000 inhabitants, on initiative of the local council, sub-municipal administrative entities with elected councils may be created. As such, only Antwerp, having over 460,000 inhabitants, became subdivided into nine districts . The Belgian arrondissements (also in French
as well as in Dutch
), an administrative level between province (or the capital region) and municipality, or the lowest judicial level, are in English
sometimes called districts as well.
, were officially created in 1795, when the Directoire
reorganised the structures of the Ancien Régime. The municipalities with less than 5,000 inhabitants were grouped in so-called canton municipalities. In 1800, these canton municipalities were abolished again and the number of autonomous municipalities became 2,776.
Not much changed during the United Kingdom of the Netherlands
, only a number of smaller municipalities were merged.
and another 119 municipalities became the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. New municipalities were created until 1928. There were 2,528 municipalities in 1850, 2,572 in 1875, 2,617 in 1900 and a maximum of 2,675 in 1929. This also includes the municipalities of the East Cantons
that were added to Belgium following the First World War.
Article 4 of the constitution
states that each municipality must belong to only one of the four official language areas that were established in 1962–63. In the three officially unilingual language areas, a couple of dozen municipalities in the vicinity of another language area must provide limited facilities for speakers of that other language. As only a law carried by special majorities can change the language status of any municipality, these arrangements have prevented some small municipalities with facilities to be merged in the 1970s, and thus the most minute Belgian municipalities are still found in this group, notably Herstappe
with only 84 inhabitants (in 2006).
Lucien Harmegnies, Minister of the Interior in the government of Gaston Eyskens
(1968–1972) decided to continue the process of territorial reorganisation of Belgium. In 1971, the provisions of the Unity Law were extended and modified to apply to large agglomerations, which were initially excluded from its provisions. It was another Minister of the Interior, Joseph Michel, who managed the process. On December 30, 1975, the law regarding the merger of the municipalities was adopted. The merger became effective on January 1, 1977. The merger of 1977 further reduced the number of municipalities in Belgium from 2,359 to 596.
with the municipalities of Berchem
, Borgerhout
, Deurne, Hoboken, Ekeren
, Merksem
and Wilrijk
in 1983 finally reduced the number of municipalities in Belgium to 589 and was the last reorganisation of the municipalities to date because the merger of the 19 municipalities of Brussels
was postponed indefinitely.
at the local level. In that capacity, he or she is responsible for the execution of law
s, decree
s, ordinance
s and orders. The Mayor is also responsible for the maintenance of public order in his or her municipality. He or she chairs the College of Mayor and Aldermen or the Municipal College, depending on the Region, as well.
In the Flemish Region
and the Brussels-Capital Region, the Mayor is appointed by the Regional Government, on the nomination of the Municipal Council, for a term of office of six years. In the Walloon Region, the Mayor is the municipal councillor who received the largest number of preferential votes of the majority party that received the largest number of votes in the municipal elections. Hence, it is also possible that the Mayor is not a member of the largest party, as the largest party is not always part of the governing coalition. It is also possible in the Walloon Region for the Municipal Council to adopt a constructive motion of no confidence
in the Municipal College.
and the Brussels-Capital Region, and as the Municipal College in the Walloon Region. This College is responsible for the daily administration of the municipality. It is also responsible for the preparation and implementation of the decisions of the Municipal Council.
. As a result, there are several differences between the municipal institutions in the Flemish Region
, the Walloon Region and the Brussels-Capital Region. The Walloon Region has also further devolved part of its responsibilities to the German-speaking Community
with regards to its 9 municipalities.
The three Regions can amend or replace the existing legislation on the municipalities, most notably the New Municipal Law. In the Flemish Region
the Municipal Decree of 15 July 2005 applies. In the Walloon Region the Code of Local Democracy and Decentralisation applies. In the Brussels Region several provisions of the New Municipal Law have been modified by ordinance
, such as the Ordinance of 17 July 2003. The legal framework in the three Regions is still relatively similar, but that could change in the future.
includes the possibility to create agglomeration
s and federations of municipalities by law. This possibility was only used once in 1971 when the Brussels Agglomeration, comprising the 19 municipalities of Brussels
, was put into place. It de facto
ceased to exist in 1989 when the organs of the Brussels-Capital Region were established.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
comprises 589 municipalities
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
(Dutch
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
: gemeenten, French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
: communes, German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
: Gemeinde) grouped into five provinces in each of two region
Region
Region is most commonly found as a term used in terrestrial and astrophysics sciences also an area, notably among the different sub-disciplines of geography, studied by regional geographers. Regions consist of subregions that contain clusters of like areas that are distinctive by their uniformity...
s and into a third region, the Brussels-Capital Region, comprising 19 municipalities that do not belong to a province. In most cases, the municipalities are the smallest administrative subdivisions of Belgium, but in municipalities with more than 100,000 inhabitants, on initiative of the local council, sub-municipal administrative entities with elected councils may be created. As such, only Antwerp, having over 460,000 inhabitants, became subdivided into nine districts . The Belgian arrondissements (also in French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
as well as in Dutch
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
), an administrative level between province (or the capital region) and municipality, or the lowest judicial level, are in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
sometimes called districts as well.
Lists of municipalities
Here are three lists of municipalities for each one of the three regions:- List of municipalities of the Brussels-Capital RegionMunicipalities of the Brussels-Capital RegionThe 19 municipalities of the Brussels-Capital Region are the political subdivisions of Belgium's central region...
- List of municipalities of the Flemish Region
- List of municipalities of the Walloon Region
Before 1830
The municipalities, as an administrative divisionAdministrative division
An administrative division, subnational entity, or country subdivision is a portion of a country or other political division, established for the purpose of government. Administrative divisions are each granted a certain degree of autonomy, and are required to manage themselves through their own...
, were officially created in 1795, when the Directoire
French Directory
The Directory was a body of five Directors that held executive power in France following the Convention and preceding the Consulate...
reorganised the structures of the Ancien Régime. The municipalities with less than 5,000 inhabitants were grouped in so-called canton municipalities. In 1800, these canton municipalities were abolished again and the number of autonomous municipalities became 2,776.
Not much changed during the United Kingdom of the Netherlands
United Kingdom of the Netherlands
United Kingdom of the Netherlands is the unofficial name used to refer to Kingdom of the Netherlands during the period after it was first created from part of the First French Empire and before the new kingdom of Belgium split out in 1830...
, only a number of smaller municipalities were merged.
Between 1830 and 1961
In 1831, Belgium was divided into 2,739 municipalities, a number which remained more or less constant until 1961. The number of municipalities was reduced to 2,508 when the Belgian borders were recognised in 1839 as 124 municipalities were ceded to the NetherlandsNetherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
and another 119 municipalities became the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. New municipalities were created until 1928. There were 2,528 municipalities in 1850, 2,572 in 1875, 2,617 in 1900 and a maximum of 2,675 in 1929. This also includes the municipalities of the East Cantons
Eupen-Malmedy
Eupen-Malmedy, or the East Cantons , is a group of cantons in Belgium, composed of the former Prussian districts of Malmedy and Eupen, together with the Neutral Moresnet...
that were added to Belgium following the First World War.
From 1961 to 1977
In 1961, the so-called Unity Law , of which the fourth chapter was dedicated to the territorial organisation of the municipalities, was adopted. The authority to abolish municipalities was entrusted to the executive branch for a period of 10 years. Municipalities could be merged on financial grounds or on grounds of a geographical, linguistic, economic, social or cultural nature. In 1964 and in 1969 and 1970, roughly 300 municipalities ceased to exist and were subsumed into other municipalities. The number of municipalities was reduced from 2,663 in 1961 to 2,586 in 1965 and to 2,359 in 1971.Article 4 of the constitution
Constitution of Belgium
The Constitution of Belgium dates back to 1831. Since then Belgium has been a parliamentary monarchy that applies the principles of ministerial responsibility for the government policy and the Trias Politica. The Constitution established Belgium as a centralised unitary state...
states that each municipality must belong to only one of the four official language areas that were established in 1962–63. In the three officially unilingual language areas, a couple of dozen municipalities in the vicinity of another language area must provide limited facilities for speakers of that other language. As only a law carried by special majorities can change the language status of any municipality, these arrangements have prevented some small municipalities with facilities to be merged in the 1970s, and thus the most minute Belgian municipalities are still found in this group, notably Herstappe
Herstappe
Herstappe is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Limburg. On January 1, 2008 Herstappe had a total population of 84. The total area is 1.35 km² which gives a population density of 61 inhabitants per km². It is the least populous municipality in Belgium. Only Saint-Josse-ten-Noode...
with only 84 inhabitants (in 2006).
Lucien Harmegnies, Minister of the Interior in the government of Gaston Eyskens
Gaston Eyskens
Gaston François Marie, Viscount Eyskens was a Belgian economist, Christian Democratic politician of the CVP-PSC, and statesman.He was a six-time Prime Minister of Belgium from 1949 to 1950, 1958 to 1961 and 1968 to 1973...
(1968–1972) decided to continue the process of territorial reorganisation of Belgium. In 1971, the provisions of the Unity Law were extended and modified to apply to large agglomerations, which were initially excluded from its provisions. It was another Minister of the Interior, Joseph Michel, who managed the process. On December 30, 1975, the law regarding the merger of the municipalities was adopted. The merger became effective on January 1, 1977. The merger of 1977 further reduced the number of municipalities in Belgium from 2,359 to 596.
Since 1977
Because of the specific nature of the reorganisation in Antwerp, the law of December 30, 1975 didn't enter into force for Antwerp until January 1, 1983. The formerly independent municipalities were called districts and were given an advisory function. However, on January 1, 2001 they were given an administrative function again. The merger of AntwerpAntwerp (district)
Antwerp District coincides with the old city of Antwerp. Since the municipality and contemporary city of Antwerp in the Flemish Region of Belgium was decentralized in 2000, this district level of government steadily increased its administrative powers....
with the municipalities of Berchem
Berchem
The 'Ring', Antwerp's circular motorway which follows the track of the former city defense walls, cuts Berchem in two parts, separating the urban inner city area of Oud-Berchem from the more residential and suburban areas Groenenhoek en Nieuw Kwartier .-Demography:Berchem's total surface is over ,...
, Borgerhout
Borgerhout
Borgerhout is a district of the municipality and city of Antwerp in the Flemish Region of Belgium. The district houses 41,614 inhabitants reflecting 90 nationalities...
, Deurne, Hoboken, Ekeren
Ekeren
Ekeren is a northern district of the municipality of Antwerp in the Flemish Region of Belgium. The suburb celebrated its 850th birthday in 2005; the name of the town was first mentioned in 1155, as "Hecerna"....
, Merksem
Merksem
Merksem is a district of the municipality and city of Antwerp in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It has almost 41,000 inhabitants.-History:The history of Merksem goes back to Gallo-Roman times. During that period the region was mentioned as Merk and Heim being part of the diocese Kamerijk...
and Wilrijk
Wilrijk
Wilrijk is a district of the municipality and city of Antwerp in the Flemish Region of Belgium. Wilrijk had been a separate municipality before January 1, 1983; the enlarged municipality of Antwerp was decentralized in 2000 and Wilrijk became one the city's nine districts.This suburb is also known...
in 1983 finally reduced the number of municipalities in Belgium to 589 and was the last reorganisation of the municipalities to date because the merger of the 19 municipalities of Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
was postponed indefinitely.
Mayor
The Mayor is not only the head of the municipality, he or she is also the representative of the Regional and the Federal GovernmentBelgian federal government
The Cabinet of Belgium is the executive branch of the Belgian federal government, consisting of ministers and secretaries of state drawn from the political parties which form the governing coalition. Formally, the ministers are appointed by the King...
at the local level. In that capacity, he or she is responsible for the execution of law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
s, decree
Decree
A decree is a rule of law issued by a head of state , according to certain procedures . It has the force of law...
s, ordinance
Ordinance (Belgium)
For other uses of the term ordinance, see: Ordinance.Ordinance in Belgium refers to legislation passed by the Brussels Parliament in exercise of its regional competences and by the United Assembly of the Common Community Commission...
s and orders. The Mayor is also responsible for the maintenance of public order in his or her municipality. He or she chairs the College of Mayor and Aldermen or the Municipal College, depending on the Region, as well.
In the Flemish Region
Flemish Region
The Flemish Region is one of the three official regions of the Kingdom of Belgium—alongside the Walloon Region and the Brussels-Capital Region. Colloquially, it is usually simply referred to as Flanders, of which it is the institutional iteration within the context of the Belgian political system...
and the Brussels-Capital Region, the Mayor is appointed by the Regional Government, on the nomination of the Municipal Council, for a term of office of six years. In the Walloon Region, the Mayor is the municipal councillor who received the largest number of preferential votes of the majority party that received the largest number of votes in the municipal elections. Hence, it is also possible that the Mayor is not a member of the largest party, as the largest party is not always part of the governing coalition. It is also possible in the Walloon Region for the Municipal Council to adopt a constructive motion of no confidence
Motion of no confidence
A motion of no confidence is a parliamentary motion whose passing would demonstrate to the head of state that the elected parliament no longer has confidence in the appointed government.-Overview:Typically, when a parliament passes a vote of no...
in the Municipal College.
College
The executive organ of the municipality is known as the College of Mayor and Aldermen , commonly referred to as the College of Aldermen , in the Flemish RegionFlemish Region
The Flemish Region is one of the three official regions of the Kingdom of Belgium—alongside the Walloon Region and the Brussels-Capital Region. Colloquially, it is usually simply referred to as Flanders, of which it is the institutional iteration within the context of the Belgian political system...
and the Brussels-Capital Region, and as the Municipal College in the Walloon Region. This College is responsible for the daily administration of the municipality. It is also responsible for the preparation and implementation of the decisions of the Municipal Council.
Council
The Municipal Council is the representative assembly of the municipality and consists of members directly elected for a term of office of six years. The number of municipal councillors depends on the number of inhabitants of the municipality, and can vary from 7 to 55. It is responsible for all matters that are of municipal interest.Differences between the Regions
Following the Fifth State Reform in 2001, the responsibility for the composition, the organisation, the competences and the activities of the municipal institutions were devolved to the Regions, as well as the responsibility for the provincial institutionsProvinces of Belgium
Belgium is divided into three regions, two of them are subdivided into five provinces each.The division into provinces is fixed by Article 5 of the Belgian Constitution...
. As a result, there are several differences between the municipal institutions in the Flemish Region
Flemish Region
The Flemish Region is one of the three official regions of the Kingdom of Belgium—alongside the Walloon Region and the Brussels-Capital Region. Colloquially, it is usually simply referred to as Flanders, of which it is the institutional iteration within the context of the Belgian political system...
, the Walloon Region and the Brussels-Capital Region. The Walloon Region has also further devolved part of its responsibilities to the German-speaking Community
German-speaking Community of Belgium
The German-speaking Community of Belgium is one of the three federal communities of Belgium. Covering an area of 854 km² within the province of Liège in Wallonia, it includes nine of the eleven municipalities of the so-called East Cantons...
with regards to its 9 municipalities.
The three Regions can amend or replace the existing legislation on the municipalities, most notably the New Municipal Law. In the Flemish Region
Flemish Region
The Flemish Region is one of the three official regions of the Kingdom of Belgium—alongside the Walloon Region and the Brussels-Capital Region. Colloquially, it is usually simply referred to as Flanders, of which it is the institutional iteration within the context of the Belgian political system...
the Municipal Decree of 15 July 2005 applies. In the Walloon Region the Code of Local Democracy and Decentralisation applies. In the Brussels Region several provisions of the New Municipal Law have been modified by ordinance
Ordinance (Belgium)
For other uses of the term ordinance, see: Ordinance.Ordinance in Belgium refers to legislation passed by the Brussels Parliament in exercise of its regional competences and by the United Assembly of the Common Community Commission...
, such as the Ordinance of 17 July 2003. The legal framework in the three Regions is still relatively similar, but that could change in the future.
Agglomerations and federations
Since 1970, the Belgian ConstitutionConstitution of Belgium
The Constitution of Belgium dates back to 1831. Since then Belgium has been a parliamentary monarchy that applies the principles of ministerial responsibility for the government policy and the Trias Politica. The Constitution established Belgium as a centralised unitary state...
includes the possibility to create agglomeration
Agglomeration
In the study of human settlements, an urban agglomeration is an extended city or town area comprising the built-up area of a central place and any suburbs linked by continuous urban area. In France, INSEE the French Statistical Institute, translate it as "Unité urbaine" which means continuous...
s and federations of municipalities by law. This possibility was only used once in 1971 when the Brussels Agglomeration, comprising the 19 municipalities of Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, was put into place. It de facto
De facto
De facto is a Latin expression that means "concerning fact." In law, it often means "in practice but not necessarily ordained by law" or "in practice or actuality, but not officially established." It is commonly used in contrast to de jure when referring to matters of law, governance, or...
ceased to exist in 1989 when the organs of the Brussels-Capital Region were established.
See also
- Communities, regions and language areas of Belgium
- Provinces of BelgiumProvinces of BelgiumBelgium is divided into three regions, two of them are subdivided into five provinces each.The division into provinces is fixed by Article 5 of the Belgian Constitution...
- List of Belgian municipalities by population
- List of cities in Belgium
- List of postal codes in Belgium
- Municipalities with language facilities
External links
- Vereniging van Vlaamse Steden en Gemeenten Association of Flemish Cities and Municipalities
- Union des Villes et Communes de Wallonie Union of Cities and Municipalities of Wallonia
- AVCB-VSGB Association of the City and Municipalities of the Brussels-Capital Region