Censors
Check on the administration of legacies and bequests.
Mission
The Censors monitor the King Baudouin Foundation's administration of wills and bequests. They report to the Board of Governors on the way in which the Foundation manages the legacies entrusted to it and how it fulfils the associated testamentary obligations.
Composition
The Board of Governors designates four Censors, who are not members of the board. They hold the position of Censor for five years (with a renewable mandate). The upper age limit is 67.
The current Censors are:
Vincent Bertouille
Justice of the Peace, Forest (Brussels)
Frank Buyssens
Notary in Zwijndrecht, Professor at KU Leuven, Joint Director of the Center for Notary Law of the KU Leuven
Arnout Schotsmans
Honorary Notary, Mechelen
Thierry Van Pee
Honorary Notary, Nivelles
Sale of movable goods and real estate
Specific rules are in place regarding movable goods and real estate transferred to the King Baudouin Foundation, but for which the donors did not specify that the Foundation had to keep them.
Movable goods
Movable goods are sold by public auction. An auction house is selected on the basis of the nature and quality of the items and the expertise, methodology and charges of the auctioneers. The sale may be divided between different auction houses depending on the quality of the items. Individual items of special value may be entrusted to foreign auctioneers. Auctions are conducted or supervised by a notary or court bailiff.
Real estate
Real estate properties are also sold at auction. A private sale may be considered in exceptional circumstances, which have to be justified and may be done for the following reasons:
- the contents are jointly owned and the sale is to the joint owners
- the property is considered ‘non-saleable’ (too large, too small, in poor repair, in a poor location etc.)
- there are neighbourhood problems (boundaries, planning permission etc.) that would cause unnecessary costs.