Deelgemeenten

A deelgemeente, or sub-municipality, is a subdivision of a municipality in Belgium, typically corresponding to a former village or town that was incorporated into a larger municipality during the municipal mergers of the 1960s and 1970s. The concept is most common in the Flemish part of the country and in the Brussels region, where many municipalities were amalgamated but the historical communities remained recognizable within the larger urban area.

Legal status and governance: Deelgemeenten generally do not have separate legal personality. They derive their identity from the parent municipality, and executive authority remains with the municipal council and mayor. In many municipalities there is a raad van de deelgemeente (council of the sub-municipality), an advisory body representing residents of the deelgemeente and providing input on local matters. The exact existence and powers of such a council vary by municipality and are defined by local regulations.

Functions and responsibilities: When present, the deelgemeente council can advise on local issues such as housing, culture, sports, and the use of local facilities. The municipality remains responsible for major policy decisions, budgets, and services, while the deelgemeente may oversee locally oriented tasks or facilities like community centers, parks, and neighborhood services within the framework set by the municipal government. In some places the formal structure for deelgemeenten has been reduced or replaced by district or neighborhood mechanisms.

Role and significance: Deelgemeenten serve to preserve local identity and ensure continuity of local life after fusion, providing a familiar geographic and cultural reference within a larger administrative entity. They represent how historical communities persist within modern municipal governance while sharing resources and administration with the parent municipality.