Dijkgraaf (official)

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The first of a series of gablestones on a Gemeenlandshuis in Halfweg built in 1645; each stone represents the heraldic shield of the dike-reeve and his men, known as the Script error: No such module "Lang"., or in this case, the high or Script error: No such module "Lang".

A Script error: No such module "Lang". (Template:Lit), sometimes called a Script error: No such module "Lang"., is the chair of a Dutch water board. The dijkgraaf is the equivalent of a mayor in local government and a King's Commissioner in provincial government, chairing both the legislative and executive council, while having both ceremonial and representational roles as well as their own portfolios. The term goes back to medieval days.

Literally the term means "Dike count", like other titles ending in Script error: No such module "Lang". (equivalent to English: -grave and Template:Langx) of feudal origin, but remained a functional official. The government bodies in the Netherlands today in order of rank are:

National
Provincial
Municipal
Water boards.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

In medieval times and earlier however, the water boards were the same as municipal, and since it was a country of duchies, the Water board (Script error: No such module "Lang".) was in governmental terms the equivalent of a city (Script error: No such module "Lang".), and thus also the highest form of government.