Mayor (1976–1988)
Doeke Bekius (Gauw, 14 November 1922 – Haart, 8 June 2013) was a Dutch politician, representing successively the Anti-Revolutionary Party (ARP) and the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA).
Bekius was born and grew up in the Frisian village of Gauw, near Sneek. After completing his ULO (advanced elementary education), he joined the municipality of Wymbritseradeel at the age of sixteen, a rural municipality surrounding Sneek that comprised 28 villages. In 1946, he moved to the municipality of Zutphen. With the experience gained there, he accepted the position of Head of General Affairs at the municipality of Apeldoorn in 1951. In July 1961, he became Mayor of Westdongeradeel, which was followed in December 1966 by his appointment as Mayor of Kollumerland en Nieuwkruisland.
Mayor in the municipality of Aalten
In mid-1976, Bekius accepted the mayoralty of the municipality of Aalten, succeeding Mayor Faber. He considered the small town of Bredevoort to be a gift, an inspiring assignment. In 1988, he was appointed ‘honorary drossard’ (eredrost) there.
After his retirement, he continued to reside within the municipality of Aalten. He remained a member of both Bredevoorts Belang and Haarts Belang (local community interest groups). Furthermore, he dedicated himself to the Vereniging van Kleine Kernen (VKK – Association of Small Communities) Gelderland. At the end of 1987, he started there as an advisor to the board; he soon joined as a board member and subsequently served as its chairman for many years.
Bekius lived and passed away in the hamlet of Haart, in the municipality of Aalten. On 14 June, his funeral took place in his birthplace of Gauw.
He was succeeded as Mayor of Aalten by Tijme Bouwers.
