Fusion of communes in Belgium

In Belgium, one indicates by fusion of the communes the process which led to the reduction of the number of communes between 1975 and 1983.

Before 1961

In 1831, Belgium counted 2 739 communes.

Some will be yielded to the Netherlands, others with the Grand Duche du Luxembourg. After the First World War, the communes of the Cantons of the East was taken with the Germany. There be the creation of ten new communes and the fusion of some others. Thus in 1921, the old communes of Brussels, Laeken, Neder-Over-Heembeek and Haren amalgamated to form the commune of Brussels-city.

In 1929, Belgium counted 2 675 communes. This figure remained relatively constant until 1961.

Fusion of communes

In 1961, certain provisions of the single Law, devoted to the territorial organization of the communes, allowed a simplification of fusions. Competence to remove communes was entrusted for one ten years period to the executive power. Communes could group on the basis of of financial considerations, but also elements geographical, linguistic, economic, social or cultural.

Thus the number of communes was of 2 663 in 1961, of 2 586 in 1965 and 2 359 in 1971.

Lucien Harmegnies, Minister of the Interior under the government of Gaston Eyskens (1968 - 1972), decides to proceed to the regrouping of the territory. In 1971, the field of application of the single Law is widened in order to make it applicable in the case of the great agglomerations, initially excluded as of these provisions. It is another Minister of Interior Department, Joseph Michel of the government of Léo Tindemans, which concludes the project its.

By the royal decree of the September 17th 1975, ratified by the law of the December 30th 1975, the number of communes is tiny room of 2 359 to 596. Fusion is effective at January 1st 1977.

After from Antwerp fusion of 1983, it remains nothing any more but 589 communes: 308 in Flemish Area, 262 in Walloon region and 19 Area of Brussels.

One indicates by the term “section”, “commune before fusion” or “old commune” the independent communes at January 1st 1961. To make the distinction with those clearly, one often indicates the current communes under the term of “entity” or “amalgamated commune”. Thus, one will speak for example about the entity or the amalgamated commune of Mons (one also says “Large Mons”).

See too

List of the communes of Belgium
List of the old communes in province of Antwerp
List of the communes before fusion of the Walloon region
History of the borders of Belgium

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