The welfare association Welzijnsband Meetjesland is an independent public legal entity that organises the cooperation between the local authorities of Aalter, Assenede, Eeklo, Evergem, Kaprijke, Lievegem, Maldegem, St.-Laureins, Wachtebeke and Zelzate in the field of debt mediation, collective debt settlement, legal advice, archive and document management, employment counselling, neighbourhood work, social economy management, educational support, integrated broad welcome policy, internal auditing and information security.