1926 Flood Medal

1918–1939 (Interwar period)

The 1926 Flood Medal was established to recognise the diligence, courage, leadership and self-sacrifice displayed during the 1926 floods. Those who had already received a Flood Medal in 1916 were given a clasp bearing the inscription ‘WATERSNOOD 1916’, which could be worn on the ribbon.

The medal was produced by the Royal Mint. A total of 249 silver and 991 bronze copies were struck.

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General

Start date	1926
End date	1926
Captions	voorzijde: WILLEM III KONING DER NED. G.H.V.L; keerzijde, opschrift: DE KONING AAN; omschrift: WATERSNOOD VAN 1926
Dimensions [width]	50 and 40 mm
Material	silver; bronze
Number	249 (silver); 991 (bronze)

Background

Institutional decision	Royal Decree, 20 January 1926, No. 3
Additions
Objective	Established to recognise the diligence, courage, leadership and self-sacrifice displayed during the 1926 floods.
(Historical) context	Heavy rainfall from mid-December 1925 onwards, combined with meltwater, led to exceptionally high water levels in the Meuse in the Netherlands, Belgium and France. On 31 December, the Meuse dyke breached at Overasselt and Nederasselt, causing the Land van Maas en Waal and the river basin to flood.
Producer	The Royal Mint
Bibliography	Orders and Decorations of the Netherlands, 130; The Flood Medal in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Photo Atlas, 26–30
Note	The name of the recipient was engraved on the reverse. Those who had already received a flood medal in 1916 were given a clasp bearing the inscription ‘WATERSNOOD 1926’, which could be worn on the ribbon. One silver and one bronze buckle, both dated 1926, were awarded.