alderman

A schepen (Dutch, pronounced [ˈsxeːpə(n)] ; pl. schepenen) or échevin (French, pronounced [eʃ(ə)vɛ̃] , [ɛʃvɛ̃]) or Schöffe (German, pronounced [ˈʃœfə] ) is a municipal officer in Belgium and formerly the Netherlands, where it has been replaced by the wethouder (a municipal executive). In modern Belgium, the schepen or échevin is part of the municipal government. Depending on the context, it may be roughly translated as an alderman, councillor, or magistrate.