The Belgian and Dutch response to COVID-19 : change and stability in the mayors’ position

How did Belgian and Dutch mayors experience their own role and that of local government during the first few months of the COVID-19 outbreak? This question was addressed by drawing on three analytical perspectives (functional, territorial, and political) on local government systems and using a qualitative case study design. Interestingly, the position and leeway of Belgian and Dutch mayors did not differ that much during the first crisis months. The type of virus and scope of the outbreak necessitated a centralised approach. Consequently, the decisions were made at the national level and mayors focused primarily on implementing these central measures. Moreover, Belgian and Dutch mayors experienced a similar shift in terms of (1) power and authority (respectively to the provincial governor and the national level and to the regional mayor and the national level); (2) tasks (prioritising crisis management over other tasks); and (3) roles (increasing importance of their executive role while lamenting the effects of COVID-19 on their social role vis-à-vis their citizens)