Mayor of Vilvoorde

Hans Bonte studied Political & Social Sciences at the University of Ghent and Public Administration at the Free University of Brussels. He started his career as a youth worker in Sint-Jans Molenbeek (Brussels) before becoming a labour and social security expert for the Research Institute SEVI, and eventually an MP appointed to the House of Representatives in 1995.

In 2007, Hans became president of the Public Centre for Social Welfare and Councilor for Social Affairs in the city of Vilvoorde. Following this, he launched a number of innovative initiatives focusing on social economy, the aging population, community work and pension policy. In 2013 Hans became the first social-democratic (party) mayor of the city of Vilvoorde in thirty years.