Waterschap
A waterschap (literally "Wasserschaft") or hoogheemraadschap (literally: "Hochheimratschaft") is the unit of a special level of local self-government in the Netherlands . The task of the waterschappen lies in the administration of the water management , therefore their borders do not follow municipality or province borders, but river areas or watersheds . The waterschappen take care of the amount of water, the water quality and the water currents. In some cases a waterschap can also manage roads when dealing with water management. Waterschappen levy taxes to cover the costs .
Since May 17, 2018 there are 21 waterschappen in the Netherlands . Their parliaments are elected every four years, the so-called algemeen bestuur . A board of directors is elected from among them and is responsible for the dagelijks . At the top of the waterschap is a dijkgraaf ( Deichgraf ). The names can be different depending on the waterschap . Dutch politicians have long been discussing a possible abolition of this very old self-governing body (the first dates from 1255); the tasks could be delegated to the provinces or municipalities.
literature
- Jan C. Sneep: Het waterschapsbestuur. Kanttekeningen bij de ontwikkeling van het waterschap tot functionele representatie-democratie . Dissertation, University of Amsterdam 1980.
Web links
- Unie van Waterschappen (Dutch)