wethouder

An alderman is a member of the municipal executive, the college van burgemeester en wethouders (B&W), alongside the mayor. The gemeenteraad (municipal council) appoints wethouders, who may be council members or come from outside the council, and each one usually takes charge of a portfolio such as education, housing or finance. Together they run the day-to-day administration of the municipality and carry out the policy the council has approved.