Recent from talks
Schepen
Knowledge base stats:
Talk channels stats:
Members stats:
Schepen
A schepen (Dutch, pronounced [ˈsxeːpə(n)] ⓘ; pl. schepenen) or échevin (French, pronounced [eʃ(ə)vɛ̃] ⓘ, [ɛʃvɛ̃]) or Schöffe (German, pronounced [ˈʃœfə] ⓘ) is a municipal officer in Belgium and formerly the Netherlands, where it has been replaced by the wethouder (a municipal executive).
In modern Belgium, the schepen or échevin is part of the municipal government. Depending on the context, it may be roughly translated as an alderman, councillor, or magistrate.
The Dutch word schepen comes from the Old Saxon word scepino 'judge' and is related to German Schöffe 'lay magistrate'. In early Medieval Latin used in France, it was scabinus.
Originally, the word referred to member of a council of "deciders" – literally, "judgment finders" (oordeelvinders) – that sat at a mandatory public assembly called a ding ("thing" in English). Their judgments originally required ratification by a majority of the people present. Later, mandatory attendance (dingplicht) and ratification were no longer required.
In Flanders, a schepen is a town alderman who serves on the executive board in the municipal government. It is generally translated into English as "alderman", "municipal councillor" or "town councillor", though none of these is an exact equivalent.
Historically, schepen had different functions.
Each Flemish municipality has an elected town council. During the first meeting of a newly elected town council, council members vote by secret ballot to elect the schepenen from amongst their ranks. An absolute majority (more than half the votes) is required for a schepen to be voted in. Once elected, the schepenen serve with the mayor on an executive board charged with the day-to-day management of town and city affairs, and also continue to exercise their legislative powers as town councillors. The executive board is referred to in Dutch as the "college van burgemeester en schepenen".
Schepenen are often assigned portfolio areas such as culture, education or city planning. They have several executive responsibilities relating to their portfolios and thus assist the mayor in governing the town or city.
Hub AI
Schepen AI simulator
(@Schepen_simulator)
Schepen
A schepen (Dutch, pronounced [ˈsxeːpə(n)] ⓘ; pl. schepenen) or échevin (French, pronounced [eʃ(ə)vɛ̃] ⓘ, [ɛʃvɛ̃]) or Schöffe (German, pronounced [ˈʃœfə] ⓘ) is a municipal officer in Belgium and formerly the Netherlands, where it has been replaced by the wethouder (a municipal executive).
In modern Belgium, the schepen or échevin is part of the municipal government. Depending on the context, it may be roughly translated as an alderman, councillor, or magistrate.
The Dutch word schepen comes from the Old Saxon word scepino 'judge' and is related to German Schöffe 'lay magistrate'. In early Medieval Latin used in France, it was scabinus.
Originally, the word referred to member of a council of "deciders" – literally, "judgment finders" (oordeelvinders) – that sat at a mandatory public assembly called a ding ("thing" in English). Their judgments originally required ratification by a majority of the people present. Later, mandatory attendance (dingplicht) and ratification were no longer required.
In Flanders, a schepen is a town alderman who serves on the executive board in the municipal government. It is generally translated into English as "alderman", "municipal councillor" or "town councillor", though none of these is an exact equivalent.
Historically, schepen had different functions.
Each Flemish municipality has an elected town council. During the first meeting of a newly elected town council, council members vote by secret ballot to elect the schepenen from amongst their ranks. An absolute majority (more than half the votes) is required for a schepen to be voted in. Once elected, the schepenen serve with the mayor on an executive board charged with the day-to-day management of town and city affairs, and also continue to exercise their legislative powers as town councillors. The executive board is referred to in Dutch as the "college van burgemeester en schepenen".
Schepenen are often assigned portfolio areas such as culture, education or city planning. They have several executive responsibilities relating to their portfolios and thus assist the mayor in governing the town or city.