Watermael-Boitsfort: good transparency, political transition

Brussels' greenest municipality

Watermael-Boitsfort is a residential municipality of 25,000 inhabitants, known for its green spaces (Sonian Forest) and garden cities. After 12 years of Ecolo mayoralty, David Leisterh (MR) takes over with an MR-Les Engagés + Ecolo-Groen coalition.

Transparency: 5 out of 6 criteria

The budget and council minutes are published online, the council is broadcast via livestream (dedicated page with replays), the mandate registry is accessible, and a participation service manages neighbourhood meetings and participatory budgets. No dedicated Open Data portal.

Political transition

David Leisterh's arrival as mayor marks the end of the Ecolo era in Watermael-Boitsfort. Ecolo nevertheless retains the CPAS presidency and two aldermanic positions in the new majority. Leisterh's dual role between his private sector activity and his duties as mayor has raised questions.

Recent developments

The Naïades school (primary education) has announced its closure due to a 40% decline in birth rate in the municipality, a demographic trend affecting several schools in Brussels' outer ring.