 Henk Eijsink of the Labour Party, who was the last mayor of Bellingwolde and acting mayor of Wedde, became the first mayor of Bellingwedde in 1968–1970.He was followed by Jurjen Jan Hoeksema (Labour Party; 1970–1978), Engbert Drenth (Labour Party; 1979–2007), Erik Triemstra (Christian Democratic Appeal; 2007–2013), and Janneke Snijder-Hazelhoff (People's Party for Freedom and Democracy; 2013–2018).The municipality has merged with Vlagtwedde into the new municipality of Westerwolde on 1 January 2018.