Who makes decisions about Houthulst?
Three levels of government each decide on their own topics.
Your municipality
The municipal council and the mayor and aldermen decide on matters such as streets, waste collection, sports halls, libraries and the public social welfare centre.
We do not show municipal council decisions yet: there is no open data for all municipalities yet.
Flemish Parliament
The Flemish Parliament decides on matters such as education, housing, mobility, the environment, child benefit and care.
Recently discussed
- Call for transparency on budget cuts and advertising plans at VRT
- Proposal to shift funds towards fixing dangerous Flemish cycle paths
- Proposal to postpone and review cultural budget cuts in Flanders
Federal Chamber
The Chamber decides on matters such as pensions, taxes, justice, the police, defence and health insurance.
Recently discussed
- New rules for sustainability reporting by companies
- Protection of geographical indications for craft and industrial products
- Proposal for a national pact to improve disease prevention
What did the municipal council decide?
The items the municipal council dealt with in recent months. Items about individuals (staff, permits, councillors’ questions…) are shown without details.
Meeting of 17 September 2026
- Question or interpellation from a councillor
- Retributiereglement op de tijdelijke opvang van zwervende, verloren en/of achtergelaten dieren (2027-2031) - vaststelling.
- Make-up of the municipal council or the board of aldermen (oath, resignation, replacement)
- Other item (see the details at the municipality)
- Other item (see the details at the municipality)
- Question or interpellation from a councillor
- Question or interpellation from a councillor
- Question or interpellation from a councillor
- Other item (see the details at the municipality)
- Question or interpellation from a councillor
- Question or interpellation from a councillor
- Question or interpellation from a councillor
- Question or interpellation from a councillor
Source: Lokaal Beslist (Flemish government), published by the municipality.
How does Houthulst handle money?
From the 2024 annual accounts of the municipality and the public social welfare centre combined. Amounts per inhabitant, so you can compare municipalities.
Revenue
€ 1,552 per inhabitant
taxes, money from higher authorities, charges…
45% less than the Flemish average
Spending
€ 2,018 per inhabitant
day-to-day running and investments
30% less than the Flemish average
Debt
€ 2,371 per inhabitant
what the municipality still has to repay on its loans
87% more than the Flemish average
Does the municipality have money left over? Yes: after day-to-day running costs and repaying loans, € 3 per inhabitant was left to invest.
What did Houthulst spend the most on?
Breakdown of spending on day-to-day running (excluding investments).
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Governance and administration the town hall, staff, service desks and buildings 24%
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Care and social assistance Public social welfare centre, childcare, care for older people and help for people in poverty 19%
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Culture, sport and leisure library, sports hall, cultural centre and youth work 12%
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Housing and building building permits, social housing and neighbourhoods 11%
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Police and fire service the contribution to the police zone and the emergency services zone 9%
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Roads and mobility streets, pavements, cycle paths and parking 8%
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Loans and finances interest on loans and collecting taxes 8%
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Schools and education municipal schools, school buildings and academies 5%
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Waste, nature and environment waste collection, sewers, parks and green spaces 3%
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Business and employment markets, local economy and employment 1%
In 2014 the municipality spent € 1,289 per inhabitant; in 2024, € 2,018 (in euros of that year, not adjusted for inflation).
Source: Flemish Agency for Home Affairs, Gemeente- en Stadsmonitor (BBC-DR). Your municipality's budget and multi-year plan can be found in the BBC-beleidstool.
Subsidies for organisations from Houthulst
In 2025, 85 organisations from Houthulst received a total of € 15 million in subsidies.
The municipal administration itself often also receives subsidies from higher levels of government. Self-employed people and other individuals are not counted here.
Who received the most?
- GEMEENTE HOUTHULST € 5,732,103
- CASSIERS WOON- EN ZORGCENTRUM € 4,363,863
- DE GROENE VERTE WOON EN ZORG € 3,309,037
- OPENBAAR CENTRUM VOOR MAATSCHAPPELIJK WELZIJN VAN HOUTHULST € 443,330
- DIENSTENCHEQUE ONDERNEMING SPIEK & SPAN € 252,615
Work contracted out by public bodies in Houthulst
These are the larger public contracts of public bodies with their address in this municipality: the municipality itself, but also, for example, a hospital, a school or a ministry.
We have not found any large public contracts from public bodies in this municipality yet.
Companies from Houthulst that won government work
In 2026, companies and organisations from Houthulst won 3 public contracts across Belgium.
- GARWIG LOGISTICS 3 contracts
What is not here yet?
- The decisions of your municipal council.
- Smaller public contracts, below the European thresholds.