Gemeentewet

The Gemeentewet, or Municipal Act, is the Dutch statute that provides the legal framework for the organization, powers and duties of municipalities in the Netherlands. It was first enacted in 1851 as part of Johan Rudolph Thorbecke’s reforms following the 1848 constitution and has been amended many times since. The act remains the foundational text for local government and is complemented by sector-specific laws that regulate particular domains.

The act organizes municipal government around two linked bodies. The gemeenteraad (municipal council) is the elected legislative body and serves as the highest authority within the municipality. The gemeentebestuur (municipal executive) typically comprises the burgemeester (mayor) and the wethouders (aldermen), who together form the college van burgemeester en wethouders and handle day-to-day administration and policy implementation. The burgemeester is appointed by the central government after the council’s nomination, while the aldermen are appointed by the municipal council. The council adopts local policies and the budget, and the executive carries out these policies and manages municipal services.

The Gemeentewet assigns broad responsibilities to municipalities, including spatial planning, housing and building regulations, local infrastructure and public spaces, social care and welfare, public health, environmental policy, local economic development, and licensing. Municipalities implement national policies locally, raise and manage local finances within national financial frameworks, and provide services directly to residents. They are subject to provincial supervision and must coordinate with other levels of government in areas such as policing, education and zoning.

Over time, the Gemeentewet has been updated to reflect decentralization, modernization, transparency and citizen participation. It remains the central instrument for Dutch local governance, defining the balance between local autonomy and national oversight.