Holland
lives with water (by Cees L. Kolff)
Holland has been cultivated by people. They made it
possible that we can live in this land, of which ¼ lies beneath
the level of the sea. The oldest democratic institutions in Holland
are the Water Boards (Waterschappen). For centuries, the oldest
date back some 700 years, they have been responsible for the protection
of life against flooding of the land. Up to approx. 1945 there were
2500 Waterschappen, since then the number has been reduced, by mergers,
to 48 and this process continues till the number will be around 25.
Apart from protecting the land the responsibilities now also comprise
the environment, i.e. clean water. Since the 1848 Constitution the
provinces can establish Waterschappen and deal with the areas. that
they work in. Certain other items are also arranged by the province,
such as the functioning and election of the board. Other than this
the Waterschappen are independent. The board, and how it functions,
can be compared to a municipal government. Since they have their own
boards and their own means of taxation they are able to operate effectively
without political influence.
|