Hans Bonte

Hans Bonte grew up in the West Flemish town of Ingelmunster. He read Sociology at Ghent University and Political Science at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. After completing his studies, Bonte worked as an outreach and youth worker at the non-profit organisation Centrum-West in Sint-Jans-Molenbeek. He later joined the research department of the Socialist Party (SP), the predecessor of Vooruit, as a labour market policy and social security expert.

Between 1995 and 2019, Bonte was an uninterrupted member of the Chamber of Representatives where he chaired the Committee on Social Affairs, Public Health and the Environment, among other roles. During that period, he was also Alderman and later Chair of the Public Centre for Social Welfare in Vilvoorde. In 2013, he became Mayor of Vilvoorde. In the latest parliamentary elections, he was elected to the Flemish Parliament where he has served as Chair of the Committee on Housing, Tourism, Energy and Climate since 2025.

In January 2026, Hans Bonte was appointed interim Deputy Minister-President of the Government of Flanders and Flemish Minister for Housing, Energy and Climate, Tourism and Youth to replace Melissa Depraetere, who is on maternity leave.