Moniteur Belge · 30 Sep 2026 · 28 vistas
Appointments and renewals of heads of local police units
Por FactBox Admin
Through three royal decrees published in the Moniteur belge (Belgian Official Gazette) on September 30, 2026 (pages 52456-52457), King Philippe has appointed a new chief of police and renewed the mandates of two others at the head of local police zones. The decisions, made under the section of the Federal Public Service Interior, concern the zones of KASTZE, BILZEN-HOESELT-RIEMST, and BRUXELLES CAPITALE IXELLES. Each appointment or renewal is granted for a term of five years.
Context: a continuous wave of appointments
The three texts are published under the official references C − 2026/007156, C − 2026/007003, and C − 2026/007005. They are part of a series of similar decisions appearing in the Moniteur belge in recent weeks, which notably concerned the zones of Bruges, NIVELLES-GENAPPE, AARSCHOT, HUY, CHARLEROI, VESDRE (Dison/Pepinster/Verviers), and ARCHES (Andenne/Assesse/Fernelmont/Gesves/Ohey).
The chief of police is the management authority of the local police of a multi-municipal or single-municipal zone; their mandate is established by royal decree for a fixed and renewable duration. Publication in the Moniteur belge constitutes the official form of these designations.
KASTZE: Filip Van Steenbergen promoted and appointed
- Reference: C − 2026/007156.
- Act: royal decree of September 22, 2026.
- Decision: Filip Van Steenbergen is promoted to the rank of divisional police commissioner and appointed, for a term of five years, to the mandate of chief of police of the local police of the KASTZE police zone.
- Zone concerned: KASTZE (Kampenhout/Steenokkerzeel/Zemst).
Renewals: Bilzen-Hoeselt-Riemst and Bruxelles-Capitale/Ixelles
- Dirk Claes: the mandate of chief of police of the local police of the BILZEN-HOESELT-RIEMST police zone is renewed for five years, effective September 26, 2026 (royal decree of September 10, 2026, C − 2026/007003).
- Michel Goovaerts: the mandate of chief of police of the local police of the BRUXELLES CAPITALE IXELLES police zone is renewed for five years, effective January 1, 2027 (royal decree of September 10, 2026, C − 2026/007005).
A retirement in the same section
On the same day, under reference C − 2026/007006 (page 52457), a royal decree of September 10, 2026, retires Yves Hendrix from his position as divisional police commissioner, as of April 1, 2026. He is authorized to bear the rank of divisional police commissioner and the title of chief of police, followed by the words “retired”.
Scope
These publications officially set the leadership of the concerned zones for the next five years. The renewal of Michel Goovaerts at the head of the BRUSSELS CAPITAL IXELLES zone, one of the most important in the country, does not take effect until January 1, 2027, while that of Dirk Claes has been applicable since September 26, 2026. The appointment of Filip Van Steenbergen to KASTZE is accompanied by a promotion to the rank of divisional commissioner, a rank requirement for the exercise of the mandate.
Source: Belgian Official Gazette of September 30, 2026, pages 52456-52457, references C − 2026/007156, C − 2026/007003, C − 2026/007005 and C − 2026/007006.