diff --git a/.github/CODEOWNERS b/.github/CODEOWNERS
index 824ca73..4885cdb 100644
--- a/.github/CODEOWNERS
+++ b/.github/CODEOWNERS
@@ -15,4 +15,4 @@
 # For things in .github also the eye of the admin group is useful
 .github/  @mcmeadow @sverweij
 tools/    @mcmeadow @sverweij
-README.md @sverweij
\ No newline at end of file
+README.md @sverweij
diff --git a/.github/VIRTUAL-CODEOWNERS.txt b/.github/VIRTUAL-CODEOWNERS.txt
index 577dcaf..dcd2dcf 100644
--- a/.github/VIRTUAL-CODEOWNERS.txt
+++ b/.github/VIRTUAL-CODEOWNERS.txt
@@ -7,4 +7,4 @@
 # For things in .github also the eye of the admin group is useful
 .github/  @vco-admins @admin
 tools/    @vco-admins @tools
-README.md @vco @documentation
\ No newline at end of file
+README.md @vco @documentation
diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index c688821..c6d7444 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ jobs:
       - run: npm test
         if: always() && matrix.node-version != '20.12.2'
       - name: run test & emit results to step summary
-        # code coverage report on 20.x only, as --experimental-test-coverage on node > 20.12.2 
+        # code coverage report on 20.x only, as --experimental-test-coverage on node > 20.12.2
         # is not stable (gives varying results over identical runs)
         if: always() && matrix.node-version == '20.12.2'
         run: |
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index e5c6736..5d023ef 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -143,7 +143,10 @@ libs/baarden/       jan@example.com korneel@example.com pier@example.com tjorus@
 
 ### Any gotcha's?
 
-It won't check whether the users or teams you entered exist.
+- It won't check whether the users or teams you entered exist.
+- Only relevant when you're on GitLab: Section heading support is experimental
+  and when generating labeler.yml default section owners aren't expanded to
+  section rules.
 
 ### Do I have to run this each time I edit `VIRTUAL-CODEOWNERS.txt`?
 
@@ -207,6 +210,10 @@ user/team names but doesn't verify their existence in the project.
 
 - valid user/team names start with an `@` or are an e-mail address
 - valid rules have a file pattern and at least one user/team name
+- valid sections headings comply with the syntax described over at [GitLab](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/user/project/codeowners/reference.html#sections)
+  > different from GitLab's syntax the line `[bla @group` is not interpreted
+  > as a rule, but as an erroneous section heading. This behaviour might change
+  > to be the same as GitLab's in future releases without a major version bump.
 
 ### I want to specify different locations for the files (e.g. because I'm using GitLab)
 
diff --git a/dist/codeowners/generate.js b/dist/codeowners/generate.js
index 454117b..21d12a0 100644
--- a/dist/codeowners/generate.js
+++ b/dist/codeowners/generate.js
@@ -26,20 +26,32 @@ export default function generateCodeOwners(
 }
 function generateLine(pCSTLine, pTeamMap) {
 	if (pCSTLine.type === "rule") {
-		const lUserNames = uniq(
-			pCSTLine.users.flatMap((pUser) => expandTeamToUserNames(pUser, pTeamMap)),
-		)
-			.sort(compareUserNames)
-			.join(" ");
 		return (
 			pCSTLine.filesPattern +
 			pCSTLine.spaces +
-			lUserNames +
+			expandTeamsToUsersString(pCSTLine.users, pTeamMap) +
+			(pCSTLine.inlineComment ? ` #${pCSTLine.inlineComment}` : "")
+		);
+	}
+	if (pCSTLine.type === "section-heading") {
+		return (
+			(pCSTLine.optional ? "^" : "") +
+			"[" +
+			pCSTLine.sectionName +
+			"]" +
+			(pCSTLine.minApprovers ? `[${pCSTLine.minApprovers}]` : "") +
+			pCSTLine.spaces +
+			expandTeamsToUsersString(pCSTLine.users, pTeamMap) +
 			(pCSTLine.inlineComment ? ` #${pCSTLine.inlineComment}` : "")
 		);
 	}
 	return pCSTLine.raw;
 }
+function expandTeamsToUsersString(pUsers, pTeamMap) {
+	return uniq(pUsers.flatMap((pUser) => expandTeamToUserNames(pUser, pTeamMap)))
+		.sort(compareUserNames)
+		.join(" ");
+}
 function expandTeamToUserNames(pUser, pTeamMap) {
 	if (pUser.type === "virtual-team-name") {
 		return stringifyTeamMembers(pTeamMap, pUser.bareName);
diff --git a/dist/virtual-code-owners/parse.js b/dist/virtual-code-owners/parse.js
index 302e7d1..aee63b1 100644
--- a/dist/virtual-code-owners/parse.js
+++ b/dist/virtual-code-owners/parse.js
@@ -19,6 +19,9 @@ function parseLine(pUntreatedLine, pTeamMap, pLineNo) {
 	if (lTrimmedLine.startsWith("#")) {
 		return { type: "comment", line: pLineNo, raw: pUntreatedLine };
 	}
+	if (lTrimmedLine.startsWith("[") || lTrimmedLine.startsWith("^[")) {
+		return parseSection(pUntreatedLine, pLineNo, pTeamMap);
+	}
 	if (!lRule?.groups) {
 		if (lTrimmedLine === "") {
 			return { type: "empty", line: pLineNo, raw: pUntreatedLine };
@@ -35,6 +38,40 @@ function parseLine(pUntreatedLine, pTeamMap, pLineNo) {
 		raw: pUntreatedLine,
 	};
 }
+function parseSection(pUntreatedLine, pLineNo, pTeamMap) {
+	const lTrimmedLine = pUntreatedLine.trim();
+	const lCommentSplitLine = lTrimmedLine.split(/\s*#/);
+	const lSection = lCommentSplitLine[0]?.match(
+		/^(?<optionalIndicator>\^)?\[(?<sectionName>[^\]]+)\](\[(?<minApprovers>[0-9]+)\])?(?<spaces>\s+)(?<userNames>.*)$/,
+	);
+	if (!lSection?.groups) {
+		return lTrimmedLine.endsWith("]")
+			? {
+					type: "section-without-users",
+					line: pLineNo,
+					raw: pUntreatedLine,
+				}
+			: {
+					type: "unknown",
+					line: pLineNo,
+					raw: pUntreatedLine,
+				};
+	}
+	const lReturnValue = {
+		type: "section-heading",
+		line: pLineNo,
+		optional: lSection.groups.optionalIndicator === "^",
+		sectionName: lSection.groups.sectionName,
+		spaces: lSection.groups.spaces,
+		users: parseUsers(lSection.groups.userNames, pTeamMap),
+		inlineComment: lTrimmedLine.split(/\s*#/)[1] ?? "",
+		raw: pUntreatedLine,
+	};
+	if (lSection.groups.minApprovers) {
+		lReturnValue.minApprovers = parseInt(lSection.groups.minApprovers, 10);
+	}
+	return lReturnValue;
+}
 function parseUsers(pUserNamesString, pTeamMap) {
 	const lUserNames = pUserNamesString.split(/\s+/);
 	return lUserNames.map((pUserName, pIndex) => {
diff --git a/dist/virtual-code-owners/read.js b/dist/virtual-code-owners/read.js
index cc185ca..ffc1e06 100644
--- a/dist/virtual-code-owners/read.js
+++ b/dist/virtual-code-owners/read.js
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ function reportAnomalies(pFileName, pAnomalies) {
 	return pAnomalies
 		.map((pAnomaly) => {
 			if (pAnomaly.type === "invalid-line") {
-				return `${pFileName}:${pAnomaly.line}:1 invalid line - neither a rule, comment nor empty: "${pAnomaly.raw}"`;
+				return `${pFileName}:${pAnomaly.line}:1 invalid line - neither a rule, section heading, comment nor empty: "${pAnomaly.raw}"`;
 			} else {
 				return (
 					`${pFileName}:${pAnomaly.line}:1 invalid user or team name "${pAnomaly.raw}" (#${pAnomaly.userNumberWithinLine} on this line). ` +
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 074dd38..4f10ee4 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
     "prepack": "clean-pkg-json --dry --keep overrides --keep resolutions | jq '.scripts = {test: \"echo for test, build and static analysis scripts: see the github repository\"}' > smaller-package.json && mv smaller-package.json package.json && prettier --log-level warn --write --use-tabs package.json",
     "postpack": "git restore package.json",
     "scm:stage": "git add .",
-    "test": "tsx --experimental-test-coverage --enable-source-maps --test-reporter ./tools/dot-with-summary.reporter.js --test src/*.test.ts src/**/*.test.ts",
+    "test": "tsx --experimental-test-coverage --test-reporter ./tools/dot-with-summary.reporter.js --test src/*.test.ts src/**/*.test.ts",
     "update-dependencies": "npm run upem:update && npm run upem:install && npm run check",
     "upem-outdated": "npm outdated --json --long | upem --dry-run",
     "upem:install": "npm install",
diff --git a/src/codeowners/generate.test.ts b/src/codeowners/generate.test.ts
index 5aac1fb..80d2e75 100644
--- a/src/codeowners/generate.test.ts
+++ b/src/codeowners/generate.test.ts
@@ -61,6 +61,19 @@ tools/ @team-tgif`;
     );
   });
 
+  it("replaces team names in section heads", () => {
+    const lFixture = "[some section head] @team-sales @team-after-sales";
+    const lTeamMapFixture = {
+      "team-sales": ["jan", "pier", "tjorus"],
+      "team-after-sales": ["wim", "zus", "jet"],
+    };
+    const lExpected = "[some section head] @jan @jet @pier @tjorus @wim @zus";
+    equal(
+      generateCodeOwnersFromString(lFixture, lTeamMapFixture, ""),
+      lExpected,
+    );
+  });
+
   it("correctly replaces a team name that is a substring of another one", () => {
     const lFixture = "tools/shared @substring";
     const lTeamMapFixture = {
diff --git a/src/codeowners/generate.ts b/src/codeowners/generate.ts
index 27cdc4c..95fa74b 100644
--- a/src/codeowners/generate.ts
+++ b/src/codeowners/generate.ts
@@ -38,21 +38,34 @@ function generateLine(
   pTeamMap: ITeamMap,
 ): string {
   if (pCSTLine.type === "rule") {
-    const lUserNames = uniq(
-      pCSTLine.users.flatMap((pUser) => expandTeamToUserNames(pUser, pTeamMap)),
-    )
-      .sort(compareUserNames)
-      .join(" ");
     return (
       pCSTLine.filesPattern +
       pCSTLine.spaces +
-      lUserNames +
+      expandTeamsToUsersString(pCSTLine.users, pTeamMap) +
+      (pCSTLine.inlineComment ? ` #${pCSTLine.inlineComment}` : "")
+    );
+  }
+  if (pCSTLine.type === "section-heading") {
+    return (
+      (pCSTLine.optional ? "^" : "") +
+      "[" +
+      pCSTLine.sectionName +
+      "]" +
+      (pCSTLine.minApprovers ? `[${pCSTLine.minApprovers}]` : "") +
+      pCSTLine.spaces +
+      expandTeamsToUsersString(pCSTLine.users, pTeamMap) +
       (pCSTLine.inlineComment ? ` #${pCSTLine.inlineComment}` : "")
     );
   }
   return pCSTLine.raw;
 }
 
+function expandTeamsToUsersString(pUsers: IUser[], pTeamMap: ITeamMap): string {
+  return uniq(pUsers.flatMap((pUser) => expandTeamToUserNames(pUser, pTeamMap)))
+    .sort(compareUserNames)
+    .join(" ");
+}
+
 function expandTeamToUserNames(pUser: IUser, pTeamMap: ITeamMap): string[] {
   if (pUser.type === "virtual-team-name") {
     return stringifyTeamMembers(pTeamMap, pUser.bareName);
diff --git a/src/labeler-yml/generate.ts b/src/labeler-yml/generate.ts
index 9fbed17..317a89e 100644
--- a/src/labeler-yml/generate.ts
+++ b/src/labeler-yml/generate.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import { EOL } from "node:os";
 import type { ITeamMap } from "../team-map/team-map.js";
 import type {
-  IInterestingCSTLine,
+  IRuleCSTLine,
   IVirtualCodeOwnersCST,
 } from "../virtual-code-owners/cst.js";
 
@@ -48,12 +48,12 @@ function getPatternsForTeam(
       .filter((pLine) => {
         return (
           pLine.type === "rule" &&
-          lineContainsTeamName(pLine as IInterestingCSTLine, pTeamName)
+          lineContainsTeamName(pLine as IRuleCSTLine, pTeamName)
         );
       })
       // @ts-expect-error ts thinks it can still be an IBoringCSTLine,
       // but with the filter above we've ruled that out
-      .map((pLine: IInterestingCSTLine) => pLine.filesPattern)
+      .map((pLine: IRuleCSTLine) => pLine.filesPattern)
   );
 }
 
@@ -93,10 +93,7 @@ function transformForYamlAndMinimatch(pOriginalString: string): string {
   return lReturnValue;
 }
 
-function lineContainsTeamName(
-  pLine: IInterestingCSTLine,
-  pTeamName: string,
-): boolean {
+function lineContainsTeamName(pLine: IRuleCSTLine, pTeamName: string): boolean {
   return pLine.users.some(
     (pUser) =>
       pUser.type === "virtual-team-name" && pUser.bareName === pTeamName,
diff --git a/src/team-map/read.ts b/src/team-map/read.ts
index fff6d6a..cb54bac 100644
--- a/src/team-map/read.ts
+++ b/src/team-map/read.ts
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ function assertTeamMapValid(pTeamMap: ITeamMap, pVirtualTeamsFileName: string) {
   if (!ajv.validate(virtualTeamsSchema, pTeamMap)) {
     throw new Error(
       `This is not a valid virtual-teams.yml:${EOL}${formatAjvErrors(
-        ajv.errors,
+        ajv.errors as any[],
         pVirtualTeamsFileName,
       )}.\n`,
     );
diff --git a/src/virtual-code-owners/__fixtures__/corpus/empty-teams/015-section-required.txt b/src/virtual-code-owners/__fixtures__/corpus/empty-teams/015-section-required.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e9153da
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/virtual-code-owners/__fixtures__/corpus/empty-teams/015-section-required.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+[required-section]
+aap/ @some-user @some-other-user
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/virtual-code-owners/__fixtures__/corpus/empty-teams/015-section-required.yml b/src/virtual-code-owners/__fixtures__/corpus/empty-teams/015-section-required.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5215bc7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/virtual-code-owners/__fixtures__/corpus/empty-teams/015-section-required.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+[
+  { line: 1, raw: "[required-section]", type: "section-without-users" },
+  {
+    filesPattern: "aap/",
+    inlineComment: "",
+    line: 2,
+    raw: "aap/ @some-user @some-other-user",
+    spaces: " ",
+    type: "rule",
+    users:
+      [
+        {
+          bareName: "some-user",
+          raw: "@some-user",
+          type: "other-user-or-team",
+          userNumberWithinLine: 1,
+        },
+        {
+          bareName: "some-other-user",
+          raw: "@some-other-user",
+          type: "other-user-or-team",
+          userNumberWithinLine: 2,
+        },
+      ],
+  },
+]
diff --git a/src/virtual-code-owners/__fixtures__/corpus/empty-teams/021-section-required-min-approvers.txt b/src/virtual-code-owners/__fixtures__/corpus/empty-teams/021-section-required-min-approvers.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..42f02ad
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/virtual-code-owners/__fixtures__/corpus/empty-teams/021-section-required-min-approvers.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+[required-section][42]
+aap/ @some-user @some-other-user
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/virtual-code-owners/__fixtures__/corpus/empty-teams/021-section-required-min-approvers.yml b/src/virtual-code-owners/__fixtures__/corpus/empty-teams/021-section-required-min-approvers.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6f3c26d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/virtual-code-owners/__fixtures__/corpus/empty-teams/021-section-required-min-approvers.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+[
+  { line: 1, raw: "[required-section][42]", type: "section-without-users" },
+  {
+    filesPattern: "aap/",
+    inlineComment: "",
+    line: 2,
+    raw: "aap/ @some-user @some-other-user",
+    spaces: " ",
+    type: "rule",
+    users:
+      [
+        {
+          bareName: "some-user",
+          raw: "@some-user",
+          type: "other-user-or-team",
+          userNumberWithinLine: 1,
+        },
+        {
+          bareName: "some-other-user",
+          raw: "@some-other-user",
+          type: "other-user-or-team",
+          userNumberWithinLine: 2,
+        },
+      ],
+  },
+]
diff --git a/src/virtual-code-owners/__fixtures__/corpus/empty-teams/022-section-optional.txt b/src/virtual-code-owners/__fixtures__/corpus/empty-teams/022-section-optional.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..72d2003
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/virtual-code-owners/__fixtures__/corpus/empty-teams/022-section-optional.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+^[optional-section]
+aap/ @some-user @some-other-user
+
+^[optional-section-with-default] @koos-koets
+noot/ @robbie
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/virtual-code-owners/__fixtures__/corpus/empty-teams/022-section-optional.yml b/src/virtual-code-owners/__fixtures__/corpus/empty-teams/022-section-optional.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4554529
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/virtual-code-owners/__fixtures__/corpus/empty-teams/022-section-optional.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+[
+  { line: 1, raw: "^[optional-section]", type: "section-without-users" },
+  {
+    filesPattern: "aap/",
+    inlineComment: "",
+    line: 2,
+    raw: "aap/ @some-user @some-other-user",
+    spaces: " ",
+    type: "rule",
+    users:
+      [
+        {
+          bareName: "some-user",
+          raw: "@some-user",
+          type: "other-user-or-team",
+          userNumberWithinLine: 1,
+        },
+        {
+          bareName: "some-other-user",
+          raw: "@some-other-user",
+          type: "other-user-or-team",
+          userNumberWithinLine: 2,
+        },
+      ],
+  },
+  { line: 3, raw: "", type: "empty" },
+  {
+    inlineComment: "",
+    line: 4,
+    optional: true,
+    raw: "^[optional-section-with-default] @koos-koets",
+    sectionName: "optional-section-with-default",
+    spaces: " ",
+    type: "section-heading",
+    users:
+      [
+        {
+          bareName: "koos-koets",
+          raw: "@koos-koets",
+          type: "other-user-or-team",
+          userNumberWithinLine: 1,
+        },
+      ],
+  },
+  {
+    filesPattern: "noot/",
+    inlineComment: "",
+    line: 5,
+    raw: "noot/ @robbie",
+    spaces: " ",
+    type: "rule",
+    users:
+      [
+        {
+          bareName: "robbie",
+          raw: "@robbie",
+          type: "other-user-or-team",
+          userNumberWithinLine: 1,
+        },
+      ],
+  },
+]
diff --git a/src/virtual-code-owners/__fixtures__/corpus/empty-teams/023-section-required-with-default-owners.txt b/src/virtual-code-owners/__fixtures__/corpus/empty-teams/023-section-required-with-default-owners.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..299ffde
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/virtual-code-owners/__fixtures__/corpus/empty-teams/023-section-required-with-default-owners.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+[required-section] @default-user @default-group
+aap/ @some-user @some-other-user
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/virtual-code-owners/__fixtures__/corpus/empty-teams/023-section-required-with-default-owners.yml b/src/virtual-code-owners/__fixtures__/corpus/empty-teams/023-section-required-with-default-owners.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9e5361a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/virtual-code-owners/__fixtures__/corpus/empty-teams/023-section-required-with-default-owners.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+[
+  {
+    inlineComment: "",
+    line: 1,
+    optional: false,
+    raw: "[required-section] @default-user @default-group",
+    sectionName: "required-section",
+    spaces: " ",
+    type: "section-heading",
+    users:
+      [
+        {
+          bareName: "default-user",
+          raw: "@default-user",
+          type: "other-user-or-team",
+          userNumberWithinLine: 1,
+        },
+        {
+          bareName: "default-group",
+          raw: "@default-group",
+          type: "other-user-or-team",
+          userNumberWithinLine: 2,
+        },
+      ],
+  },
+  {
+    filesPattern: "aap/",
+    inlineComment: "",
+    line: 2,
+    raw: "aap/ @some-user @some-other-user",
+    spaces: " ",
+    type: "rule",
+    users:
+      [
+        {
+          bareName: "some-user",
+          raw: "@some-user",
+          type: "other-user-or-team",
+          userNumberWithinLine: 1,
+        },
+        {
+          bareName: "some-other-user",
+          raw: "@some-other-user",
+          type: "other-user-or-team",
+          userNumberWithinLine: 2,
+        },
+      ],
+  },
+]
diff --git a/src/virtual-code-owners/__fixtures__/corpus/empty-teams/024-section-required-with-default-owners-min-approvers.txt b/src/virtual-code-owners/__fixtures__/corpus/empty-teams/024-section-required-with-default-owners-min-approvers.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4429d0c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/virtual-code-owners/__fixtures__/corpus/empty-teams/024-section-required-with-default-owners-min-approvers.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+[required-section][42] @default-user @default-group
+aap/ @some-user @some-other-user
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/virtual-code-owners/__fixtures__/corpus/empty-teams/024-section-required-with-default-owners-min-approvers.yml b/src/virtual-code-owners/__fixtures__/corpus/empty-teams/024-section-required-with-default-owners-min-approvers.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f31d356
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/virtual-code-owners/__fixtures__/corpus/empty-teams/024-section-required-with-default-owners-min-approvers.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+[
+  {
+    inlineComment: "",
+    line: 1,
+    minApprovers: 42,
+    optional: false,
+    raw: "[required-section][42] @default-user @default-group",
+    sectionName: "required-section",
+    spaces: " ",
+    type: "section-heading",
+    users:
+      [
+        {
+          bareName: "default-user",
+          raw: "@default-user",
+          type: "other-user-or-team",
+          userNumberWithinLine: 1,
+        },
+        {
+          bareName: "default-group",
+          raw: "@default-group",
+          type: "other-user-or-team",
+          userNumberWithinLine: 2,
+        },
+      ],
+  },
+  {
+    filesPattern: "aap/",
+    inlineComment: "",
+    line: 2,
+    raw: "aap/ @some-user @some-other-user",
+    spaces: " ",
+    type: "rule",
+    users:
+      [
+        {
+          bareName: "some-user",
+          raw: "@some-user",
+          type: "other-user-or-team",
+          userNumberWithinLine: 1,
+        },
+        {
+          bareName: "some-other-user",
+          raw: "@some-other-user",
+          type: "other-user-or-team",
+          userNumberWithinLine: 2,
+        },
+      ],
+  },
+]
diff --git a/src/virtual-code-owners/__fixtures__/corpus/empty-teams/025-section-without-end.txt b/src/virtual-code-owners/__fixtures__/corpus/empty-teams/025-section-without-end.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9b4a929
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/virtual-code-owners/__fixtures__/corpus/empty-teams/025-section-without-end.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+[required-section bladiebla
+aap/ @some-user
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/virtual-code-owners/__fixtures__/corpus/empty-teams/025-section-without-end.yml b/src/virtual-code-owners/__fixtures__/corpus/empty-teams/025-section-without-end.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fe1ab57
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/virtual-code-owners/__fixtures__/corpus/empty-teams/025-section-without-end.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+[
+  { line: 1, raw: "[required-section bladiebla", type: "unknown" },
+  {
+    filesPattern: "aap/",
+    inlineComment: "",
+    line: 2,
+    raw: "aap/ @some-user",
+    spaces: " ",
+    type: "rule",
+    users:
+      [
+        {
+          bareName: "some-user",
+          raw: "@some-user",
+          type: "other-user-or-team",
+          userNumberWithinLine: 1,
+        },
+      ],
+  },
+]
diff --git a/src/virtual-code-owners/__fixtures__/corpus/teams/020-rule-virtual-team.txt b/src/virtual-code-owners/__fixtures__/corpus/teams/040-rule-virtual-team.txt
similarity index 100%
rename from src/virtual-code-owners/__fixtures__/corpus/teams/020-rule-virtual-team.txt
rename to src/virtual-code-owners/__fixtures__/corpus/teams/040-rule-virtual-team.txt
diff --git a/src/virtual-code-owners/__fixtures__/corpus/teams/020-rule-virtual-team.yml b/src/virtual-code-owners/__fixtures__/corpus/teams/040-rule-virtual-team.yml
similarity index 100%
rename from src/virtual-code-owners/__fixtures__/corpus/teams/020-rule-virtual-team.yml
rename to src/virtual-code-owners/__fixtures__/corpus/teams/040-rule-virtual-team.yml
diff --git a/src/virtual-code-owners/__fixtures__/corpus/teams/021-rule-multiple-teams.txt b/src/virtual-code-owners/__fixtures__/corpus/teams/041-rule-multiple-teams.txt
similarity index 100%
rename from src/virtual-code-owners/__fixtures__/corpus/teams/021-rule-multiple-teams.txt
rename to src/virtual-code-owners/__fixtures__/corpus/teams/041-rule-multiple-teams.txt
diff --git a/src/virtual-code-owners/__fixtures__/corpus/teams/021-rule-multiple-teams.yml b/src/virtual-code-owners/__fixtures__/corpus/teams/041-rule-multiple-teams.yml
similarity index 100%
rename from src/virtual-code-owners/__fixtures__/corpus/teams/021-rule-multiple-teams.yml
rename to src/virtual-code-owners/__fixtures__/corpus/teams/041-rule-multiple-teams.yml
diff --git a/src/virtual-code-owners/__fixtures__/corpus/teams/030-the-kitchen-sink.txt b/src/virtual-code-owners/__fixtures__/corpus/teams/050-the-kitchen-sink.txt
similarity index 100%
rename from src/virtual-code-owners/__fixtures__/corpus/teams/030-the-kitchen-sink.txt
rename to src/virtual-code-owners/__fixtures__/corpus/teams/050-the-kitchen-sink.txt
diff --git a/src/virtual-code-owners/__fixtures__/corpus/teams/030-the-kitchen-sink.yml b/src/virtual-code-owners/__fixtures__/corpus/teams/050-the-kitchen-sink.yml
similarity index 100%
rename from src/virtual-code-owners/__fixtures__/corpus/teams/030-the-kitchen-sink.yml
rename to src/virtual-code-owners/__fixtures__/corpus/teams/050-the-kitchen-sink.yml
diff --git a/src/virtual-code-owners/__fixtures__/corpus/teams/051-the-kitchen-sink-with-sections.txt b/src/virtual-code-owners/__fixtures__/corpus/teams/051-the-kitchen-sink-with-sections.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fa3e7f8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/virtual-code-owners/__fixtures__/corpus/teams/051-the-kitchen-sink-with-sections.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+#! this is not the CODEOWNERS file - to get that one run
+#!   npx virtual-code-owners
+#!
+# catch-all to ensure there at least _is_ a code owner, even when
+# it's _everyone_
+
+*       @baarden
+
+[admin & ci stuff]
+.github/                @ch/transversal
+
+[generic stuff][3]      @baarden
+apps/framework/         @leren-lezen framework@example.com
+apps/ux-portal/         @ch/ux @ch/transversal
+libs/components/        @ch/ux
+
+[specific functionality]
+libs/ubc-sales/         @ch/sales
+libs/ubc-after-sales/   @ch/after-sales
+libs/ubc-pre-sales/     @ch/pre-sales
+libs/ubc-refund/        @ch/sales @ch/after-sales # shared responsibility
+libs/ubc-baarden/       @baarden
+
+^[non critical stuff]   @baarden
+libs/ubc-foo/           @baardlozen
+#!
+#! The VIRTUAL-CODEOWNERS.txt file has the .txt extension because untamed vscode
+#! installations might otherwise interpret it as markdown and auto-correct
+#! and auto-format it as such
diff --git a/src/virtual-code-owners/__fixtures__/corpus/teams/051-the-kitchen-sink-with-sections.yml b/src/virtual-code-owners/__fixtures__/corpus/teams/051-the-kitchen-sink-with-sections.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f67f137
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/virtual-code-owners/__fixtures__/corpus/teams/051-the-kitchen-sink-with-sections.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,289 @@
+[
+  {
+    "type": "ignorable-comment",
+    "line": 1,
+    "raw": "#! this is not the CODEOWNERS file - to get that one run",
+  },
+  {
+    "type": "ignorable-comment",
+    "line": 2,
+    "raw": "#!   npx virtual-code-owners",
+  },
+  { "type": "ignorable-comment", "line": 3, "raw": "#!" },
+  {
+    "type": "comment",
+    "line": 4,
+    "raw": "# catch-all to ensure there at least _is_ a code owner, even when",
+  },
+  { "type": "comment", "line": 5, "raw": "# it's _everyone_" },
+  { "type": "empty", "line": 6, "raw": "" },
+  {
+    "type": "rule",
+    "line": 7,
+    "filesPattern": "*",
+    "spaces": "       ",
+    "users":
+      [
+        {
+          "type": "virtual-team-name",
+          "userNumberWithinLine": 1,
+          "bareName": "baarden",
+          "raw": "@baarden",
+        },
+      ],
+    "inlineComment": "",
+    "raw": "*       @baarden",
+  },
+  { "type": "empty", "line": 8, "raw": "" },
+  { "type": "section-without-users", "line": 9, "raw": "[admin & ci stuff]" },
+  {
+    "type": "rule",
+    "line": 10,
+    "filesPattern": ".github/",
+    "spaces": "                ",
+    "users":
+      [
+        {
+          "type": "other-user-or-team",
+          "userNumberWithinLine": 1,
+          "bareName": "ch/transversal",
+          "raw": "@ch/transversal",
+        },
+      ],
+    "inlineComment": "",
+    "raw": ".github/                @ch/transversal",
+  },
+  { "type": "empty", "line": 11, "raw": "" },
+  {
+    "type": "section-heading",
+    "line": 12,
+    "optional": false,
+    "sectionName": "generic stuff",
+    "minApprovers": 3,
+    "spaces": "      ",
+    "users":
+      [
+        {
+          "type": "virtual-team-name",
+          "userNumberWithinLine": 1,
+          "bareName": "baarden",
+          "raw": "@baarden",
+        },
+      ],
+    "inlineComment": "",
+    "raw": "[generic stuff][3]      @baarden",
+  },
+  {
+    "type": "rule",
+    "line": 13,
+    "filesPattern": "apps/framework/",
+    "spaces": "         ",
+    "users":
+      [
+        {
+          "type": "virtual-team-name",
+          "userNumberWithinLine": 1,
+          "bareName": "leren-lezen",
+          "raw": "@leren-lezen",
+        },
+        {
+          "type": "e-mail-address",
+          "userNumberWithinLine": 2,
+          "bareName": "framework@example.com",
+          "raw": "framework@example.com",
+        },
+      ],
+    "inlineComment": "",
+    "raw": "apps/framework/         @leren-lezen framework@example.com",
+  },
+  {
+    "type": "rule",
+    "line": 14,
+    "filesPattern": "apps/ux-portal/",
+    "spaces": "         ",
+    "users":
+      [
+        {
+          "type": "other-user-or-team",
+          "userNumberWithinLine": 1,
+          "bareName": "ch/ux",
+          "raw": "@ch/ux",
+        },
+        {
+          "type": "other-user-or-team",
+          "userNumberWithinLine": 2,
+          "bareName": "ch/transversal",
+          "raw": "@ch/transversal",
+        },
+      ],
+    "inlineComment": "",
+    "raw": "apps/ux-portal/         @ch/ux @ch/transversal",
+  },
+  {
+    "type": "rule",
+    "line": 15,
+    "filesPattern": "libs/components/",
+    "spaces": "        ",
+    "users":
+      [
+        {
+          "type": "other-user-or-team",
+          "userNumberWithinLine": 1,
+          "bareName": "ch/ux",
+          "raw": "@ch/ux",
+        },
+      ],
+    "inlineComment": "",
+    "raw": "libs/components/        @ch/ux",
+  },
+  { "type": "empty", "line": 16, "raw": "" },
+  {
+    "type": "section-without-users",
+    "line": 17,
+    "raw": "[specific functionality]",
+  },
+  {
+    "type": "rule",
+    "line": 18,
+    "filesPattern": "libs/ubc-sales/",
+    "spaces": "         ",
+    "users":
+      [
+        {
+          "type": "other-user-or-team",
+          "userNumberWithinLine": 1,
+          "bareName": "ch/sales",
+          "raw": "@ch/sales",
+        },
+      ],
+    "inlineComment": "",
+    "raw": "libs/ubc-sales/         @ch/sales",
+  },
+  {
+    "type": "rule",
+    "line": 19,
+    "filesPattern": "libs/ubc-after-sales/",
+    "spaces": "   ",
+    "users":
+      [
+        {
+          "type": "other-user-or-team",
+          "userNumberWithinLine": 1,
+          "bareName": "ch/after-sales",
+          "raw": "@ch/after-sales",
+        },
+      ],
+    "inlineComment": "",
+    "raw": "libs/ubc-after-sales/   @ch/after-sales",
+  },
+  {
+    "type": "rule",
+    "line": 20,
+    "filesPattern": "libs/ubc-pre-sales/",
+    "spaces": "     ",
+    "users":
+      [
+        {
+          "type": "other-user-or-team",
+          "userNumberWithinLine": 1,
+          "bareName": "ch/pre-sales",
+          "raw": "@ch/pre-sales",
+        },
+      ],
+    "inlineComment": "",
+    "raw": "libs/ubc-pre-sales/     @ch/pre-sales",
+  },
+  {
+    "type": "rule",
+    "line": 21,
+    "filesPattern": "libs/ubc-refund/",
+    "spaces": "        ",
+    "users":
+      [
+        {
+          "type": "other-user-or-team",
+          "userNumberWithinLine": 1,
+          "bareName": "ch/sales",
+          "raw": "@ch/sales",
+        },
+        {
+          "type": "other-user-or-team",
+          "userNumberWithinLine": 2,
+          "bareName": "ch/after-sales",
+          "raw": "@ch/after-sales",
+        },
+      ],
+    "inlineComment": " shared responsibility",
+    "raw": "libs/ubc-refund/        @ch/sales @ch/after-sales # shared responsibility",
+  },
+  {
+    "type": "rule",
+    "line": 22,
+    "filesPattern": "libs/ubc-baarden/",
+    "spaces": "       ",
+    "users":
+      [
+        {
+          "type": "virtual-team-name",
+          "userNumberWithinLine": 1,
+          "bareName": "baarden",
+          "raw": "@baarden",
+        },
+      ],
+    "inlineComment": "",
+    "raw": "libs/ubc-baarden/       @baarden",
+  },
+  { "type": "empty", "line": 23, "raw": "" },
+  {
+    "type": "section-heading",
+    "line": 24,
+    "optional": true,
+    "sectionName": "non critical stuff",
+    "spaces": "   ",
+    "users":
+      [
+        {
+          "type": "virtual-team-name",
+          "userNumberWithinLine": 1,
+          "bareName": "baarden",
+          "raw": "@baarden",
+        },
+      ],
+    "inlineComment": "",
+    "raw": "^[non critical stuff]   @baarden",
+  },
+  {
+    "type": "rule",
+    "line": 25,
+    "filesPattern": "libs/ubc-foo/",
+    "spaces": "           ",
+    "users":
+      [
+        {
+          "type": "other-user-or-team",
+          "userNumberWithinLine": 1,
+          "bareName": "baardlozen",
+          "raw": "@baardlozen",
+        },
+      ],
+    "inlineComment": "",
+    "raw": "libs/ubc-foo/           @baardlozen",
+  },
+  { "type": "ignorable-comment", "line": 26, "raw": "#!" },
+  {
+    "type": "ignorable-comment",
+    "line": 27,
+    "raw": "#! The VIRTUAL-CODEOWNERS.txt file has the .txt extension because untamed vscode",
+  },
+  {
+    "type": "ignorable-comment",
+    "line": 28,
+    "raw": "#! installations might otherwise interpret it as markdown and auto-correct",
+  },
+  {
+    "type": "ignorable-comment",
+    "line": 29,
+    "raw": "#! and auto-format it as such",
+  },
+  { "type": "empty", "line": 30, "raw": "" },
+]
diff --git a/src/virtual-code-owners/cst.d.ts b/src/virtual-code-owners/cst.d.ts
index e4abb2a..5c2e24e 100644
--- a/src/virtual-code-owners/cst.d.ts
+++ b/src/virtual-code-owners/cst.d.ts
@@ -1,11 +1,17 @@
 export type IVirtualCodeOwnersCST = IVirtualCodeOwnerLine[];
 export type IVirtualCodeOwnerLine = IBoringCSTLine | IInterestingCSTLine;
+export type IInterestingCSTLine = IRuleCSTLine | ISectionHeadingCSTLine;
 export interface IBoringCSTLine {
-  type: "comment" | "ignorable-comment" | "empty" | "unknown";
+  type:
+    | "comment"
+    | "ignorable-comment"
+    | "empty"
+    | "section-without-users"
+    | "unknown";
   line: number;
   raw: string;
 }
-export interface IInterestingCSTLine {
+export interface IRuleCSTLine {
   type: "rule";
   line: number;
   filesPattern: string;
@@ -14,6 +20,18 @@ export interface IInterestingCSTLine {
   inlineComment: string;
   raw: string;
 }
+export interface ISectionHeadingCSTLine {
+  type: "section-heading";
+  line: number;
+  optional: boolean;
+  sectionName: string;
+  minApprovers?: number;
+  spaces: string;
+  users: IUser[];
+  inlineComment: string;
+  raw: string;
+}
+
 export type UserType =
   | "virtual-team-name"
   | "e-mail-address"
diff --git a/src/virtual-code-owners/parse.test.ts b/src/virtual-code-owners/parse.test.ts
index be9199b..eb027bf 100644
--- a/src/virtual-code-owners/parse.test.ts
+++ b/src/virtual-code-owners/parse.test.ts
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ describe("parses VIRTUAL-CODEOWNERS.txt - with 'virtual teams'", () => {
         rel(getOutputFileName(pFileName)),
         "utf-8",
       );
+      // console.log(JSON.stringify(parse(lInput, TEAMS), null, 2));
       it(`parses ${pFileName}`, () => {
         deepEqual(parse(lInput, TEAMS), parseYaml(lExpected));
       });
diff --git a/src/virtual-code-owners/parse.ts b/src/virtual-code-owners/parse.ts
index f96e0c2..b700073 100644
--- a/src/virtual-code-owners/parse.ts
+++ b/src/virtual-code-owners/parse.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { EOL } from "node:os";
 import type { ITeamMap } from "../team-map/team-map.js";
 import type {
+  ISectionHeadingCSTLine,
   IUser,
   IVirtualCodeOwnerLine,
   IVirtualCodeOwnersCST,
@@ -36,6 +37,9 @@ function parseLine(
   if (lTrimmedLine.startsWith("#")) {
     return { type: "comment", line: pLineNo, raw: pUntreatedLine };
   }
+  if (lTrimmedLine.startsWith("[") || lTrimmedLine.startsWith("^[")) {
+    return parseSection(pUntreatedLine, pLineNo, pTeamMap);
+  }
   if (!lRule?.groups) {
     if (lTrimmedLine === "") {
       return { type: "empty", line: pLineNo, raw: pUntreatedLine };
@@ -54,6 +58,50 @@ function parseLine(
   };
 }
 
+function parseSection(
+  pUntreatedLine: string,
+  pLineNo: number,
+  pTeamMap: ITeamMap,
+): IVirtualCodeOwnerLine {
+  const lTrimmedLine = pUntreatedLine.trim();
+  const lCommentSplitLine = lTrimmedLine.split(/\s*#/);
+  const lSection = lCommentSplitLine[0]?.match(
+    /^(?<optionalIndicator>\^)?\[(?<sectionName>[^\]]+)\](\[(?<minApprovers>[0-9]+)\])?(?<spaces>\s+)(?<userNames>.*)$/,
+  );
+  if (!lSection?.groups) {
+    return lTrimmedLine.endsWith("]")
+      ? {
+          type: "section-without-users",
+          line: pLineNo,
+          raw: pUntreatedLine,
+        }
+      : {
+          type: "unknown",
+          line: pLineNo,
+          raw: pUntreatedLine,
+        };
+  }
+  const lReturnValue: ISectionHeadingCSTLine = {
+    type: "section-heading",
+    line: pLineNo,
+    optional: lSection.groups.optionalIndicator === "^",
+    sectionName: lSection.groups.sectionName as string,
+    spaces: lSection.groups.spaces as string,
+    users: parseUsers(lSection.groups.userNames as string, pTeamMap),
+    inlineComment: lTrimmedLine.split(/\s*#/)[1] ?? "",
+    raw: pUntreatedLine,
+  };
+
+  if (lSection.groups.minApprovers) {
+    lReturnValue.minApprovers = parseInt(
+      lSection.groups.minApprovers as string,
+      10,
+    );
+  }
+
+  return lReturnValue;
+}
+
 function parseUsers(pUserNamesString: string, pTeamMap: ITeamMap): IUser[] {
   const lUserNames = pUserNamesString.split(/\s+/);
   return lUserNames.map((pUserName, pIndex) => {
diff --git a/src/virtual-code-owners/read.ts b/src/virtual-code-owners/read.ts
index c2e8791..798dbc3 100644
--- a/src/virtual-code-owners/read.ts
+++ b/src/virtual-code-owners/read.ts
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ function reportAnomalies(pFileName: string, pAnomalies: IAnomaly[]): string {
   return pAnomalies
     .map((pAnomaly) => {
       if (pAnomaly.type === "invalid-line") {
-        return `${pFileName}:${pAnomaly.line}:1 invalid line - neither a rule, comment nor empty: "${pAnomaly.raw}"`;
+        return `${pFileName}:${pAnomaly.line}:1 invalid line - neither a rule, section heading, comment nor empty: "${pAnomaly.raw}"`;
       } else {
         return (
           `${pFileName}:${pAnomaly.line}:1 invalid user or team name "${pAnomaly.raw}" (#${pAnomaly.userNumberWithinLine} on this line). ` +