Stichting KROON is an independent knowledge and storytelling centre dedicated to Dutch honours. We collect facts, stories and visual material from reliable sources. We make this available in a central database, so that anyone can see online how honours came into being and what they signify.

Our aim is to preserve and share knowledge about recognition and appreciation. We do this by documenting honours, recording their stories and those of the recipients, and providing context. In this way, we show how these symbols of recognition are linked to our history and identity.

An ‘award’ is a collective term for any visible and tangible (i.e. not a statue) token of appreciation for proven merits, services or achievements, or for a knighthood. In everyday language, other terms are also frequently used, such as ‘medal’ or ‘ribbon’. If you would like to know more about definitions, terms and interpretations relating to honours, a wealth of information can be found in this Lexicon of the Study Group on Orders of Knighthood and Honours.

We use only primary sources and recognised reference works. All information has been checked and cited. We consider it very important that our information is 100 per cent accurate.

In the knowledge base, you can filter by order, ribbon colour, period or type of decoration. Each entry includes references to archives and literature, so you can see how we obtained the information. Further information can also be found at the Chancellery of the Dutch Orders and at the Foundation for the Preservation of the Museum of the Chancellery of the Dutch Orders.

This is an ongoing process. We work iteratively: as soon as an update comes in, we add it or update the existing information.

There is no membership, but you can get involved by making a donation. The Donate page contains instructions on how to do this, and explains what your donation helps to achieve. If, in addition, you have an interesting project idea or a fascinating story that you’d like to work on with us, we’d love to hear from you.

You cannot add items yourself. However, we’d love it if you could share your information with us so that we can work together to see if it’s suitable for inclusion in the database at Stichting KROON. Please use the contact form to get in touch with us.

Please use the contact form or email us directly at info@stichtingkroon.nl. We aim to respond within 24 hours.

We are an independent foundation. Whilst we may collaborate with (semi-)governmental bodies, we always retain our editorial independence. This ensures that our publications are factual and unbiased.

Facts show what happened; stories show how it was experienced. That way, the human perspective is preserved.

We collaborate with museums, archives, government bodies, researchers, schools and private collectors. We do this to gather as much information as possible for our knowledge base, ensuring the most comprehensive overview for our users.

Please register via the form. Please clearly indicate how you envisage a potential collaboration. If we see potential in it too, we will arrange an introductory meeting.

We are keen to collaborate with people who have knowledge of and a passion for orders of chivalry and honours. You can contribute by writing stories or articles, sharing research and documentation with us, or helping to develop ideas for exhibitions, lectures and other projects. Do you have ideas for a broader collaboration or an initiative that aligns with our mission? We’d love to hear from you. Please feel free to contact us to explore the possibilities via the form on the Collaboration page .

Yes, that is certainly possible. We welcome collections that can help to deepen our understanding of Dutch honours. We are happy to carefully document collections and, in consultation with you, use them for research, publications or (temporary) exhibitions. Please feel free to contact us to discuss what would best suit your collection and your wishes.

Yes, we are open to collaborating with museums and other institutions involved in culture, history and heritage. We would be happy to discuss which form of partnership would be most suitable, for example regarding knowledge-sharing, research or presentations. Please feel free to contact us to explore the possibilities together.

Yes, that’s possible. We can assist with organising and documenting collections, and should you wish to sell, we work in partnership with Tertio Fluctus, a shop specialising in honours and related heritage items. A modest portion of the proceeds goes to Stichting KROON, enabling us to continue developing the knowledge centre and our activities. Please feel free to contact us to discuss what best suits your collection and requirements.

We don’t have anything ‘off the shelf’ yet, but through the foundation we can organise all sorts of things for you. These might include guest lectures, online resource packs and research support. Please get in touch via the contact form. We’ll then discuss together what you need and what we can develop to meet those needs. We’re very flexible and extremely keen to help.

Yes, we’d be delighted to. Please fill in the contact form. The editorial team will assess your submission and, if approved, add it to the database.

Transparency regarding sources, clear copyright agreements and a willingness to share knowledge. That way, we both know how the information may be used.

We verify the content, carefully check the sources and only publish once this has been done.

How lovely that you’re interested in this! Please use the contact form to let us know you’re interested in volunteering, and we’ll see if we have anything suitable for you!

Go to the Donate page and select an amount. You can donate directly online. After payment, you will automatically receive a confirmation and a digital receipt of your donation.

Yes. As KROON is a recognised ANBI, donations are tax-deductible. On the ANBI page, we explain why this is the case and how it works.

Both options are available. For a one-off donation, simply choose an amount. For regular donations, you provide a direct debit authorisation; our accounts department will then automatically deduct the amount at the frequency you have chosen.

Yes. We allocate donations across three main areas: research (how stories are collected), publication (how stories are published online) and education (how they are shared). You can see exactly how the money was spent in the annual report.

Yes, that is possible. You can make a donation in memory of a person, to mark an occasion, or to express appreciation for someone’s dedication. We’d be happy to help you find a suitable way to do this. This could involve, for example, working together to create a story or article highlighting the person or occasion, so that its significance is recorded and shared. Please feel free to contact us so we can explore together what would be most appropriate and meaningful.

Yes, that is possible, and such donations are greatly appreciated. They help us to tell stories, conduct in-depth research and design exhibitions. We ask for photographs and a brief description of the material, so that we can work together to determine the best way to preserve or digitise it. If we proceed with the donation, we will carefully set this out in a donation agreement, so that it is clear how the material will be managed and used.

We use a secure payment system and store your data in encrypted form. Only the treasurer and the administrator have access. After five years, old transactions are anonymised.

Yes, that’s possible. We are keen to collaborate with organisations that wish to support our mission and have an interest in history, culture and social recognition. Various forms of partnership are possible, such as support for specific projects, contributions to exhibitions or long-term sponsorship. Please feel free to contact us to discuss which form best suits your organisation and ambitions.

Every spring, we publish a financial and activity report on our website. It sets out how donations have been used and what they have actually made possible.

We consult official publications, archives, museums and private collections. Our editorial team checks the reliability of each source – including its origin, date and consistency – before we include it.

Every text undergoes two checks: one for content (whether the factual data is correct) and one for language (how the context is conveyed). We keep a log of every change.

As soon as new information becomes available. We do not use fixed editions but rolling updates; with every update, you can see how the content has been amended.

We love it when someone else is just as passionate about their hobby as we are. Whether you can contribute depends on your expertise. Please use the contact form to let us know you’re interested. We’ll then get in touch with you as soon as possible.

Our information is in the public domain and may be used freely, provided that the source is always credited. Please note, however, that some images are sourced from third parties. For each image, please check whether it may be used and in what way, so that the rights of the creators are respected.

We would prefer you to refer to our website. If that is not sufficient, please use the contact form. Please use the form to let us know what you require, and we will be happy to discuss options with you.

That our information is freely accessible without a paywall. Anyone may use this knowledge, provided the source is clearly cited and the content is not distorted for commercial purposes.

Yes, provided you use it solely for personal use, study or research. And that you state in your publication: “source Stichting KROON”. Please note, however, that some images are sourced from third parties. Check each image to see if it may be used and in what way, so that the rights of the original creator are respected. That way, you can use our information responsibly in your publications or research.

If we have it, that’s possible. Please use the contact form and state what you’ll be using it for (purpose and medium) and what resolution you need. If we have it and agree with the purpose, we’ll send you the image.

Please send proof of authorship or a contract. We will investigate how the image was obtained and amend the credit or publication details. You will always receive written confirmation of the change.

Not in the knowledge base. Suitable for social media, but never as a substitute for historical photographs.

Yes, that is possible. We would be happy to receive photographs or images relevant to our field of expertise. Please include a brief description of the material so that we can assess how it can best be used, digitised or preserved. If we include the image in our collection or publications, we will consult with you on how it will be used and document this to ensure clarity regarding rights and usage.

For non-commercial use: yes, provided the source is acknowledged. For commercial use, please submit a request; we will then set out in writing how and where it may be used.

Please briefly fill in the contact form with your findings and attach any supporting evidence. Our editorial team will review the submission, verify the source and email you to let you know how and when we will implement the change.

There are many books and publications on Dutch honours. We are currently building up a library of books that have been donated to us. In due course, we intend to make this collection available online, so that researchers, collectors and anyone else with an interest can easily consult and make use of it.

Yes. Please upload the files via the form (max. 10MB, JPG or PDF). We will check the resolution, rights and context before publishing anything online.

Please use the contact form to express your interest in a lecture, specifying the date, target audience and topic. We will assess how this fits into our schedule and contact you to finalise the details.

Next to each decoration, you’ll see a ‘Submit your story’ button. Describe who, what, where and when, and include copyright information. Once we’ve received your submission, we’ll review it and assess whether it should be added to the knowledge base. We’ll provide you with feedback on this in any case.

Yes. Keep an eye on the calendar for that. It’s a good idea to sign up for the newsletter, as we also share details of our own events and those of our partners in it.

We work primarily online, but for complex enquiries we’re happy to arrange a phone call. Please use the contact form to suggest a time.