Association of Netherlands Municipalities
Director General: Ralph Pans
Vereniging van Nederlandse Gemeenten
Nassaulaan 12 – Postbus 30435, NL – 2500 GK Den Haag
Tel.: +31 70 373 8393
Association of Provinces of the Netherlands
Director General: Gerard Beukema
Interprovinciaal Overleg
Muzenstraat 61, 2511 VW, P.O. Box 16107, NL – 2500 BC Den Haag
Tel.: +31 70 888 1212
LOCAL AND REGIONAL STRUCTURES IN THE NETHERLANDS
The Netherlands is a unitary state composed of municipalities (gemeenten) and provinces (provincies).
Local level: 418 municipalities (gemeenten)
Local authorities
The municipal council (gemeenteraad) is the municipality's deliberative body. Its members are councillors elected for a total of four years under the proportional representation system. The municipal council is in charge of the college of mayor and aldermen, makes all main municipal decisions and has the power to pass by-laws. It is chaired by the mayor, who cannot take part in any of the council votes.
The college of mayor and aldermen (burgemeester en wethouders) is the municipality's executive body. The college prepares and implements council decisions and is responsible for executing national policies at the local level. Aldermen, whose number varies depending on the municipality, are elected for a four-year mandate.
The mayor (burgemeester) is the chair of the college of mayor and aldermen. He/she is formally appointed by the national government on proposal by the local council and has a six-year mandate. The mayor has the power to vote within the college of mayor and aldermen and his/her vote can be decisive.
Local competences (mostly shared with the national government)
. Urban planning
. Housing
. Tourism
. Civil engineering
. Transport
. Health
. Primary education
. Employment
. Childcare
. Social welfare
. Law and order
. Culture and sport
Regional level: 12 provinces (provincies)
Provincial authorities
The provincial state (provinciale staat) is the province's legislative body. Its members are elected by direct universal suffrage for a four-year mandate. The provincial state has the power to pass by-laws and is chaired by the queen's commissioner, who cannot take part in any of the provincial state's votes.
The provincial executive board (gedeputeerde staten) consists of three to nine members designated by the provincial states from within the states and by the queen's commissioner.
The queen's commissioner (commissaris van de koningin) chairs the provincial executive board and is appointed for a six-year term by the national government upon proposal by the provincial states.
Provincial competences (mostly shared with the national government)
. Welfare homes
. Regional planning
. Environmental protection
. Culture
. Leisure and sports
. Public transport, road maintenance and traffic
. Energy
. Tourism
. Regional broadcasting
