Belgian Merger Naming: Beveren, Kruibeke and Zwijndrecht Seek Identity

Since January 1, 2025, the Flemish municipalities of Beveren, Kruibeke and Zwijndrecht have operated as a single merged entity under the unwieldy provisional name “Beveren-Kruibeke-Zwijndrecht” (BKZ). Now, more than a year later, the second-largest municipality in Flanders is launching a new participatory process to find a permanent name — one that can unite 13 sub-municipalities and heal the divisions left by a deeply contested merger.

Background: A Controversial Merger

The BKZ merger was the largest and most contentious of 13 municipal consolidations approved by the Flemish Parliament on April 18, 2024, as part of a broader initiative that reduced 28 municipalities into 13 new entities. The Flemish government offered approximately 270 million euros in debt relief to incentivize the mergers, as VRT NWS reported.

The merger proved particularly controversial in Zwijndrecht. The municipal council approved it only through a “switching majority,” with the ruling CD&V party relying on opposition parties Vlaams Belang and N-VA to pass the measure. Two Vlaams Belang council members who voted in favor were expelled from their party. A citizen movement called “Hart voor Zwijndrecht” appealed to the Council of State, which rejected the request for suspension. Adding to the resentment, Zwijndrecht was transferred from the province of Antwerp to East Flanders as part of the consolidation.

The Naming Challenge

The merged municipality has been operating under the temporary name “Beveren-Kruibeke-Zwijndrecht” — a designation widely considered too long and impractical for daily use. An earlier attempt to adopt the name “Beveren Waas” in 2024 failed when the Zwijndrecht municipal council rejected it, viewing it as favoring Beveren’s identity over the other communities.

“The current name tells where we come from. The new name must tell where we want to go together,” Burgemeester Marc Van de Vijver told HLN.

A Fresh Approach: Participatory Democracy

On June 15, 2026, the municipality launched a new participatory naming process designed to avoid the pitfalls of the previous attempt. Residents can submit name proposals until the end of July 2026, but with strict rules: the words “Beveren,” “Kruibeke,” and “Zwijndrecht” cannot be used. Proposed names must be unique, not confusing with existing municipalities, respectful, and unifying, with a link to the history, identity, or environment of the area.

“We don’t want to come up with a name from behind a desk. We want a name that grows from our residents themselves,” Van de Vijver said, as reported by VRT NWS.

An independent panel of 13 members from various advisory councils — youth, culture, economy, welfare, and environment — will narrow the submissions to a shortlist of five names. Then, residents born in 2010 or earlier will vote by ranking their preferences. The winner is expected by the end of 2026.

Names in the Running

Several potential names have already surfaced in public discussion. According to La Libre Belgique, suggestions include “Scheldegem” (referencing the Scheldt River), “BKZ” (the current abbreviation), and “Mercatorstad” (honoring the cartographer Gerardus Mercator, who was born in Kruibeke). Reader suggestions from HLN include “Waashaven” and “Groot Beveren.”

Burgemeester Van de Vijver revealed that his personal favorite, “Scheldewaas,” is no longer available — it has since been adopted by the local police zone.

More Than a Name

The naming debate reflects deeper tensions around identity, local pride, and the contested nature of the merger itself. For residents of Zwijndrecht, who were most opposed to the consolidation, the name represents whether the new entity can truly represent all communities.

“The naming must be unifying. The name must not sow division again, which would prompt people to restart the whole discussion about the merger,” Van de Vijver told VRT NWS in January.

For daily use and postal delivery, residents continue to use their existing postcodes and sub-municipality names. The new overarching name will primarily be used for official legal documents and municipal branding.

What’s Next

• End of July 2026: Deadline for name proposals
• Summer/Autumn 2026: Independent panel selects top 5 names
• September-October 2026: Resident voting
• End of 2026: Final name announcement

The outcome will be closely watched as a test of whether participatory democracy can heal the divisions left by a top-down merger — and whether 13 distinct communities can find a single name they can all call home.