Mathijs Goderis (born 31 August 1988) is the youngest First Alderman (deputy mayor) in the history of Bruges, a UNESCO World Heritage city. He leads the city’s policies on urban development, spatial planning, monuments, and heritage affairs. With a background in sociology and conflict studies from Ghent University, Mathijs focuses on sustainable urban transformation, affordable housing, and balancing tourism with liveability in historic cities. His policy work centers on finding long term, community oriented solutions that reconcile environmental goals, heritage protection, and the needs of residents. Before entering city leadership, he worked in socio cultural organizations and youth driven civil society initiatives, giving him a strong grounding in participation and community engagement.
