Together we can achieve more. That is why we seek to connect with researchers, collectors, archives and museums.
Sometimes renewal is necessary, as is the case with the book ‘Orders and Decorations of the Netherlands’. This book is the international reference work on Dutch orders of chivalry and honours and dates back to the 1980s. Together with the leading experts Erik Müller, Paul Gelton and Willem de Boer, we are taking up this challenge. The new standard work will be expanded and given a modern makeover.
With their in-depth knowledge of the fire service, Henk Dekkers and Peter den Doolaard are the ideal people to collaborate with on a publication about Dutch fire service honours. The publication brings order to the rich history of fire service honours and draws connections between tradition, courage and professionalism within the fire service. An important and largely overlooked part of the heritage of honours
A new research tool is set to be launched in the world of Dutch honours. Together with Erik Müller, we will make it possible to identify people on the basis of their honours. This tool will be a valuable resource for research and documentation within this unique field of heritage.
Through the special initiative ‘Welcome Home’, Henk Warrink brings the stories of those who have been decorated to life in a personal and respectful manner. Stichting KROON is hugely enthusiastic about this initiative and is joining forces with Henk. What is currently a photographic exhibition will eventually be published as a book in collaboration with KROON, as a tribute to the people behind the honours.
The Foundation for the Preservation of the Museum of the Chancellery of the Dutch Orders is committed to preserving the museum collection of the Chancellery of the Dutch Orders. By preserving knowledge and artefacts and keeping them accessible, the foundation helps to highlight the history and significance of the Dutch honours.
These relevant parties form the core of the field in which we work
The Chancellery is responsible for the administration and implementation of all Dutch orders of knighthood. It upholds tradition, protocol and the conferral of honours on behalf of the King. For KROON, the Chancellery is an important point of reference and source of authority within the field of Dutch honours.
The Foundation for Castles, (Historic) Country Estates and Manors (sKBL) is an independent foundation dedicated to raising the profile of all these magnificent KBL sites. They promote cooperation between all the various stakeholder groups involved in this monumental heritage and strive to inspire many more people in our country and beyond to take an interest in this beautiful heritage. For further information, please visit the website.
Stichting KROON and the Foundation for Castles, Historic Country Estates and Manors (sKBL) are seeking to collaborate. Our fields of activity overlap in a surprising number of ways.
Castles, country estates and manors tell not only the story of buildings and landscapes, but above all of the people who lived and worked there. Among those residents are numerous individuals who were honoured for their social, administrative, military or other merits. Orders of knighthood and honours thus provide a unique gateway to the personal stories behind this heritage.
By combining their knowledge and networks, sKBL and KROON aim to raise the profile of these stories. An initial concrete activity is a joint event at a historic country estate, where KROON will give a presentation on honours and the stories of the people who received them.
Heritage Auctions is an auction house in IJsselstein, specialising in historical collectables, including militaria, honours, coins and other special items with a story to tell.
Heritage and Stichting KROON are seeking to collaborate on special honours and the stories associated with them.
Awards and associated objects with a special historical background regularly come to light through auctions. Drawing on its expertise and network, KROON can help to investigate these stories and bring them to light. Conversely, the objects offered through Heritage provide new starting points for research and the recording of knowledge.
The collaboration will take shape, amongst other things, by telling stories about exceptional auction items and by jointly focusing on the collection and preservation of this unique heritage.
The Jouw Verhaal Foundation offers podcast series providing an insight into the lives of those who have dedicated themselves to defending our own Dutch rule of law and to establishing and sustaining some form of rule of law in areas outside Dutch territory. This insight provides a poignant, realistic and captivating reflection in which the educational aim is achieved – not as the primary focus, but in a more subtle way. It will contribute to a better understanding of the value of our own rule of law and the importance of promoting it in those parts of the world where it is not yet a given. It will help people understand why we, as the Netherlands, are committed to this cause – and, consequently, why our veterans dedicate themselves to it and take pride in it.
Appreciation for military personnel and the police begins with ‘understanding through listening’. An underestimated power in which, whilst the podcast is not therapy, it does indeed have a therapeutic effect. A phenomenon we often underestimate and which is so easily within reach.
De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) manages, amongst other things, a vast collection of medals and honours. This exceptional collection reflects a significant part of social and administrative history, and ties in with the broader heritage sector in which KROON operates. The online collection contains more than 100,000 objects.
BOVOMED Onderscheidingen has been a trusted name in the field of designing and producing honours and medals for many years. The company possesses extensive knowledge of Dutch and foreign honours systems and operates in accordance with current regulations and traditions.
From its base in Oirschot, BOVOMED specialises in the production of decorations for military personnel, veterans and various social organisations. Craftsmanship, an eye for detail and respect for the significance of decorations are central to its work.
Stichting KROON is keen to collaborate with organisations that contribute to the preservation of knowledge, traditions and quality within the Dutch honours system. BOVOMED is a fine example of this.
The Foundation for the Preservation of the Museum of the Chancellery of the Dutch Orders is committed to preserving the museum collection of the Chancellery of the Dutch Orders. By preserving knowledge and artefacts and keeping them accessible, the foundation helps to highlight the history and significance of the Dutch honours.
The Royal Association of Members of the Dutch Orders of Knighthood seeks to unite all those who, by virtue of a Royal Decree, have been awarded a Dutch Order of Knighthood or a Royal House Order, and, where necessary, to provide them with financial support, with the aim of:
The Study Group on Orders of Knighthood and Decorations is an association of collectors and researchers with a shared passion for orders of knighthood and decorations. It promotes the exchange of knowledge and publishes on historical and contemporary topics. KROON is delighted to collaborate with the Study Group to strengthen knowledge of and interest in this unique heritage.
Every sale at Tertio Fluctus contributes directly to the stichting KROON, through which we support the advancement of knowledge about orders of knighthood and honours as part of the Dutch cultural heritage.
These professionals form the core of the network with which we collaborate.
Behind the decoration
This month: Johan van Houten
During the attack in Apeldoorn in 2009, members of the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee risked their lives by diving into the attacker’s car. Yet they are not eligible for a medal for bravery.
Since when have you been actively involved with orders of chivalry and honours?
I have been working in the field of awards since 2017.
What is the reason or motivation behind your interest in orders of knighthood and honours?
Following a career in the Ministry of Defence, during which I gained extensive operational experience whilst on deployments to Afghanistan, I retired in 2016. The following year, I was asked to become a researcher/adviser for the Bravery Awards Committee and the Recognition Committee of the Royal Netherlands Army.
Before then, I had no particular interest in honours. When I was appointed, the main things that mattered were that I had operational experience – preferably in Afghanistan – and that I had good contacts within the Ministry of Defence. Knowledge of honours was not essential. But I have since gained a great deal of that knowledge.
What is your area of interest?
That’s very much in line with my work: I’m particularly interested in people’s actions, in courage. I often find myself wondering how I would have acted in similar circumstances; unfortunately, you only find that out when you experience it for yourself.
Do you have any orders of knighthood or honours yourself?
Yes, in addition to various medals for international missions, in 2026 I was awarded the Ministry of Defence’s Medal of Merit in bronze for my service as a research adviser between 2016 and 2026.
What is your favourite decoration and why?
I don’t really focus on the awards themselves; what matters most to me is the behaviour that leads to them being awarded. The story behind the award.
There are five different bravery awards:
I have never had anything to do with the Vliegerkruis; that is awarded by the Air Force. Nor have I had anything to do with the Military Order of William. The most recent investigations and awards relating to that order took place before I became a researcher/adviser.
The criteria for awarding these bravery honours date back to the Second World War: they refer to courageous and prudent behaviour in the fight against the enemy. But what is ‘the fight’ and what is ‘the enemy’?
Each branch of the armed forces has its own researcher/adviser. We meet once a year to discuss matters. This is very useful. It was in this way that we came up with the following practical mnemonic to help determine which bravery award best suited which type of courageous behaviour:
Personally, I think the Cross of Merit is the most beautiful.
Which order of knighthood or honour would you yourself like to receive one day?
The Cross of Merit.
Who do you think deserves a royal honour?
Anyone who, in violent circumstances, goes above and beyond what might be expected of them. This includes both military personnel and civilians.
Are there any other points you would like to mention or that require attention?
Yes, the Ministry of Defence applies a limitation period of 5 years for the Military Order of William and 10 years for the other valour awards. The most recent deployments were to Afghanistan. This means that, for the time being, no further bravery awards will be conferred. This may change if the Netherlands takes part in large-scale deployments again. Last week, a final award ceremony took place. This concerned a Cross of Merit, which, due to circumstances, could not have been awarded earlier. It is good that this ceremony did take place after all, because at the Ministry of Defence we operate under the motto ‘honour where honour is due’.
In addition, for the past four years we have been working on establishing a new award for bravery. The criteria, which date back to the Second World War, make it perfectly possible to recognise the bravery of military personnel – bravery in combat against the enemy. However, in the national sphere, there are forms of bravery that do not fit within these criteria. Take, for example, the military police officers who, during the attack on the royal family in Apeldoorn in 2009, dived into the attacker’s car, possibly at the risk of their own lives. There is no doubt about their bravery, but according to the criteria, they are not eligible for a bravery award.
Which Dutch researcher, collector or stakeholder would you like to pass the baton to?
I would like to pass the baton to Wouter Hagemeijer. He was also a researcher and adviser; he now works for the Netherlands Institute for Military History.
Since when have you been actively involved with orders of chivalry and honours?
I have been working intensively and professionally with orders of chivalry and honours since 2004. But I have always had a keen interest in them.
What is the reason or motivation behind your interest in orders of knighthood and honours?
I lived in Wageningen until I was five, and then in Renkum. If you walked down the Telefoonweg there, you’d find yourself almost immediately at the landing sites of the Battle of Arnhem. And in Wageningen, there were the annual veterans’ events. There were servicemen there wearing magnificent decorations. I even corresponded with a number of them for quite some time.
I also worked as a volunteer at the Airborne Museum for about five or six years. That was great fun. Back then, you were still called upon to do a lot of different tasks, such as restoration work or maintaining cannons. It was also a time when many war veterans were getting on in years and were donating their sets of medals to the museum. That made it very personal: you heard the stories from the people themselves.
In 2004, the Committee on Valour Awards was reactivated. As Head of General Affairs and Protocol, I was appointed to sit on it. I still remember the very first meeting at what was then the Juliana Barracks.
I currently have a dual role: I am a coordinator and adviser on honours policy at the Ministry of Defence (66 per cent) and also chair of the Banners and Standards Committee (33 per cent).
What is your area of interest?
I do not collect honours. But I do have a few. For example, I have the New Guinea Cross awarded to my commander in the marines. These are honours that are dear to me because they remind me of the people who once held them and of what they did. If I had to name my areas of interest, they would be campaign medals and bravery awards. For me, it’s all about the stories behind them: campaign medals are about operational deployment, often under extremely harsh conditions.
Medals for valour are about personal bravery. There is, however, some debate as to whether military personnel should only be eligible for a medal for valour if their actions have influenced the outcome of a
operation. I don’t agree with that. There are countless examples of bravery and tremendous dedication where there was absolutely no influence whatsoever on the course of an operation. But courage is courage! Take, for example, David Lord and John Daniel Baskeyfield, two soldiers who fought in the Battle of Arnhem. Lord dropped supplies for the troops on the ground from his aeroplane, even though his aeroplane was on fire. And Baskeyfield continued to fire at the German troops even though he was seriously wounded. Neither survived their actions and both were posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross. Their actions had no bearing on the outcome of the battle, but they were both incredibly brave.
Do you have any orders of knighthood or honours yourself?
Yes, I am a Knight in the Order of Orange-Nassau and hold the Cross of Honour in the House Order of Orange.
I received the first one for going above and beyond in my work. For example, I organised the MH-17 memorial ceremony and was involved in the coronation ceremony of Willem-Alexander in 2013 – the latter as early as a year in advance, even though the exact date was not known at the time. I also helped organise the 200th-anniversary commemoration of the Army. And I was involved in the reburials of fallen soldiers, for example at the military cemetery in Loenen. For a long time, very little was done in the Netherlands to pay tribute during the reburials of Dutch war dead; fortunately, that has now changed.
I was awarded the Order of the House because I was involved with the Cavalry Honour Guard for 25 years and because I served as an adviser to the King’s Military House for roughly the same length of time. Something I still do, incidentally.
I also have medals from my deployment to Bosnia (the HVO-HIM and NATO medals) and the US Army Commendation Medal. As the years have gone by, I’ve found myself becoming more attached to them. Those were extraordinary times: we suffered two fatalities on our side, and I also witnessed the recovery operation for a Croatian soldier.
What is your favourite decoration and why?
That is the Military Order of William. For various reasons, I consider it a very special order:
Which order of knighthood or honour would you yourself like to receive one day?
In light of the above, naturally the Military Order of William. But also the French Legion of Honour. I consider that a very special honour too, though I fear I shall not be eligible for it.
Who do you think deserves a royal honour?
I find it difficult to name a specific person, but I do consider a number of criteria to be important. I am currently in the process of nominating two people, and I have nominated various people in the past as well. In doing so, I have always considered the following criteria to be important:
Are there any other points you would like to mention or that require attention?
In the Netherlands, the Ministry of the Interior is responsible for the honours system. However, the Ministry of Defence has its own distinct role within it. The nature of the work, the experiences staff undergo and the sacrifices they may be called upon to make are of a completely different order. Recognition and appreciation are key concepts here. But the Ministry of Defence owes it to itself to ensure its honours system is in order. In my experience, matters are often dealt with in a far too bureaucratic manner.
I am involved with the ICDO, the Interim Committee on Bravery Awards, a sort of ‘cold case’ team that takes a fresh, critical look at cases from the past. If cases are not handled properly or are left unresolved, this has a huge impact on those involved. Take, for example, the case of Corporal Slager (posthumously awarded the Bronze Cross for rescuing the wounded in Korea in 1951). Or the Wounded Service Badge. I also served on that committee for 10 years. If matters are left unresolved, that is a debt of honour. I would very much like to help bring about improvements in this area.
We currently apply a 10-year time limit, after which cases become time-barred. This time limit was established because memories become less accurate as time passes, and it becomes more difficult to find witnesses and record their testimonies. However, in my view, it would be better to apply the time limit differently: the recording of testimonies and the like must have taken place within 10 years of the event.
Which Dutch researcher, collector or stakeholder would you like to pass the baton to?
I would like to pass the baton to Johan van Houten. He is a retired commander. His field of work is perhaps somewhat comparable to mine, but whilst I handle the policy side of things, he is the one who investigates the facts.
Name Corstiaan de Haan
Place of birth: Wageningen
Year of birth 1960
Occupation: Civil servant at the Ministry of Defence, having served in the armed forces for 44 years.
Contact address cjch.d.h.01@mindef.nl
Since when have you been actively involved with orders of chivalry and honours?
I started collecting honours around 1988.
What is the reason or motivation behind your interest in orders of knighthood and honours?
Having grown tired of collecting stamps, I was looking for something different. My neighbour had a Cross for Distinguished Military Service attached to his car keys as a key ring. That intrigued me. His father was Colonel Greter, the Olympic show jumper who had been awarded the Bronze Cross twice: the first time for the silent night raid in May 1940 and the second time, after he had escaped from Colditz, for his service in the Dutch East Indies. The miniature of his Bronze Cross bearing the number 2 and his complete set of original batons marked the start of my collection. Along with the Cross for Distinguished Military Service on the key ring, of course!
When I was posted to Germany, I was given the opportunity to attend an international course in Ashford (UK). It was there that I met Rogier Rijpkema. As course participants with our own transport, we spent the weekend exploring the areas around Battle, Hastings and Brighton. During our travels, Rogier visited every single medal dealer he could find. I went along with him. It only served to increase my interest even further.
Later, I was awarded an Iron Cross as well, and through my international contacts, many more besides. Well, as they say, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
What is your area of interest?
My area of collection is the Kingdom of the Netherlands and, beyond that, anything I find beautiful and interesting. Later on – and, in fact, often too late – I also developed an interest in the accompanying certificates, cases, documents and other objects. That is how I search for stories. That is what I enjoy most of all.
My current interests lie in:
In doing so, I collect as many certificates, cases, related objects and information as possible. These are the things that make me happy!
Do you have any orders of knighthood or honours yourself?
The honours I have received are the result of an automatic process, of an administrative formality. For me, an honour is something you receive because you have achieved an extraordinary feat and for which you have been nominated by others. Hardly anyone understands anything about honours. That is why people think: the more honours someone has, the more important they are. But in fact, it is often just a matter of vanity.
And then there are all those buckles: surely you’d need a magnifying glass to make out what’s written on them! I believe that you are the only one who knows what you’ve done and what you’ve achieved. Personally, I see wearing decorations as showing off to others.
What is your favourite decoration and why?
I consider aesthetics and value to be of secondary importance; for me, the beauty of a decoration lies in the story behind it. For example, I used to have a set of four decorations in a canvas pouch. When I opened it, a terrible stench came out. They had belonged to a Papuan soldier who had enlisted in an Australian infantry regiment. After demobilisation, he returned to Papua New Guinea. So that he could still wear his decorations, he’d put them in a canvas pouch which he wore round his neck. As a sort of amulet. I got rid of that set. I regret it; but then, it’s too late now.
Which order of knighthood or honour would you yourself like to receive one day?
What others think I deserve. And a ‘thank you’ is also an honour.
And for collectors: the missing clasps of the Flood Disaster Medal, the insignia of the House Order crafted by Witte, and the Officer’s and Knight’s Crosses by Helder & Cunha of the Order of Orange-Nassau. With swords!!
Who do you think deserves a royal honour?
I believe that people should receive what they are entitled to. Above all, I am strongly opposed to automatic privileges, such as those enjoyed by members of parliament who have created an exceptional position for themselves. And I am opposed to what I call ‘filling the Christmas tree’.
Which Dutch researcher, collector or stakeholder would you like to pass the baton to?
Perhaps you shouldn’t be asking for names, but for areas or topics. At the moment, you’re dependent on whether someone is willing to be interviewed, or whether you can interview them in time.
Hans mentions three names, of which only the first is included in the interview, whilst the other two are already on the editorial team’s radar. The first person he mentions is Corstiaan de Haan. At the Ministry of Defence, he deals with the regulations governing honours, including the Long Service Medals. It is good to also give a voice to people outside the world of collectors. Corstiaan de Haan is at the centre of a vast network and is an important adviser to many.
Name Hans Boetier
Place of birth: Amsterdam
Year of birth 1952
Occupation: Retired officer in the Royal Netherlands Army
Contact address hmboetier@kpnmail.nl
Since when have you been actively involved with orders of chivalry and honours?
I started collecting on 31 December 2015.
What is the reason or motivation behind your interest in orders of chivalry and honours?
At the end of December 2015, there was an episode of the programme *Kassa!* which was about medals from the Nazi era on *Marktplaats*. I’ve always been interested in history, but that programme really sparked my interest. I went searching on Marktplaats that very same day and bought my first Iron Cross.
What is your area of interest?
Initially, my interest centred mainly on German decorations from the Second World War period. Until 1918, Germany consisted of many different states, each with its own decorations; however, the number of manufacturers and variants was very limited. After 1918, that changed: the number of decorations fell sharply, but the number awarded increased enormously. And with that, so did the number of manufacturers and variants. I prefer a broad field of collecting to a very limited one.
Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, I have been collecting German and Dutch decorations: during that time, the prices of German decorations rose very sharply, whilst this was much less the case for Dutch decorations.
I am now particularly interested in Dutch honours awarded to Germans and German honours awarded to Dutch people. Especially during the period 1800–1918, there were many ties between the Netherlands and German states such as Württemberg, Mecklenburg and Waldeck-Pyrmont.
Do you have any knighthoods or honours yourself?
I’m 25. That’s relatively young to receive an honour. I do do a lot of voluntary work, though. That’s something I’ve picked up from my family. Not because I’m so keen to get an honour for it, but because I believe you should contribute to society.
What is your favourite decoration and why?
I don’t really have one favourite honour, but I do find the first model of the Order of the House of Orange quite special. Not so much because of its appearance, but because, for me, the Order of the House of Orange combines mystery and frustration. It is the first honour that the Dutch monarch can award entirely at their own discretion. It has been awarded to the most diverse range of people: a German doctor honoured by Prince Hendrik, a footman to a German prince, a postman in a small village. That fascinates me greatly: what on earth could that postman have delivered to deserve the Order of the House of Orange? At the same time, there is the mystery: you know that it is often very difficult to find out.
Moreover, the maker of the first decorations was August Witte. He will not have been chosen because he was originally German, but what intrigues me is that he had a similar background to Pierre Cuypers, who created the designs for the Order of Orange-Nassau: they were both Catholic, architects and were educated in the Rhineland. That, too, is part of the mystery for me.
Which order of knighthood or decoration would you yourself like to receive one day?
One decoration I would never want to receive is the Military Order of William. But at the same time, as a collector, I would very much like to have one in my collection: a beautiful MWO3 in gold from before 1890. In terms of quality, those are the finest decorations. Last year, Colijn’s set was auctioned at Heritage Auctions. It included such a magnificent MWO.
And also a Golden Lion of Nassau. And a Knight 1st Class. Admittedly, that’s not the rarest rank, but it’s definitely the real thing! A set was recently auctioned in Germany, but it went for 9,000 euros. That was beyond my budget.
Who do you think deserves a royal honour?
I find that a difficult question.
Someone I think deserves a royal honour is my father. But fortunately, I was able to apply for one on his behalf. He was appointed a Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau last year. He’s been doing voluntary work for 50 years. I know a thing or two about honours, but it took me two and a half years to sort it out. I now understand perfectly what Couperus meant when he said: ‘Next time I want a golden lion, I’ll just take my rifle to Artis’.
Which Dutch researcher, collector or stakeholder would you like to pass the baton to?
Hans Boetier: he’s been ‘in the business’ for so long, but I think it’s brilliant how he still manages to find new additions to Bax time and time again. He’s a real go-getter.
Name Laurens Stroek
Place of birth Rotterdam
Year/date of publication: 2000
Occupation: Lawyer specialising in administrative and environmental law in Rucphen
Contact address laurensstroek@gmail.com
Since when have you been actively involved with orders of chivalry and honours?
I started collecting in 1995.
What is the reason or motivation behind your interest in orders of chivalry and honours?
I have always been very interested in history, particularly that of the First and Second World Wars. When my grandmother fell ill and began sorting through her belongings, I came across my great-grandfather’s 1914–1918 Mobilisation Commemorative Cross. That really piqued my interest: I wanted to know what sort of honour it was and why he had been awarded it. Just as with Willem de Boer, the book *Collecting is also an art*, which includes a story about Henny Meijer and his collection, has been an important source of inspiration for me. The same goes for Dr Bax’s book on Dutch orders of chivalry and decorations.
Through the holiday and temporary work I did with the police, I came into contact with Theo Kalf, curator of the Police Museum; he provided me with a great deal of information. When I first started collecting, I could find very little literature on the subject. That is why I launched *The Dutch Medals Page* in 1998. This later became www.onderscheidingen.nl. I handed this over to Stichting KROON in March 2026.
What is your area of interest?
I collect honours awarded by the emergency services (police, fire service, Red Cross, rescue services) and municipal honours. In my research, I focus on the question of who received an honour, why, and for what purpose. I limit my research to Dutch nationals, foreign honours awarded to Dutch nationals, and Dutch honours awarded to foreign nationals.
Do you hold any knighthoods or honours yourself?
I was made a Knight in the Order of Orange-Nassau in 2023 and received the Silver Medal of Merit of the Dutch Cross in 2022. I also hold various official and unofficial Dutch and foreign honours.
What is your favourite decoration and why?
I don’t really have one favourite decoration, but I do have a number of favourite background stories about certain groups of decorations. At the moment, my focus is on the group of decorations awarded to Mr Jacob Lodewijk Bakhuysen Schuld. This lawyer and public prosecutor was a reserve officer alongside his professional work and, during the interwar period, was involved in various organisations that brought children from Eastern Europe to the Netherlands to help them recover here following the First World War and the Russian Revolution. For this work, he received various foreign Red Cross awards. Following the May Days of 1940, he became involved in counter-espionage. In 1941, he was arrested by the Germans and sentenced to life imprisonment. Via the Oranjehotel and Camp Amersfoort, he ended up in Dachau. He was liberated there in 1945, but was too weak to return to the Netherlands. He died there in an American field hospital in August 1945. There were various controversies surrounding him, and research into his life is bringing to light interesting information that warrants further investigation.
Which order of knighthood or honour would you yourself like to receive one day?
I would love to receive the Cross of Merit from the Dutch Red Cross one day. I have been active as a volunteer in various roles within the Red Cross for many years. I also think it is a very fine honour.
Who do you think deserves a royal honour?
If I think someone deserves a royal honour, I nominate them. I do this about six or seven times a year. I would therefore like to answer the question differently, namely by saying who, in my opinion, does not deserve a royal honour. Despite the reform of the system that came into force in 1996, there are still automatic mechanisms within the system. When the House of Representatives bid farewell to various MPs after the elections, all MPs who had served their full term were awarded the title of Knight in the Order of Orange-Nassau, including those who were only present at the swearing-in and farewell ceremonies and had never actually sat in the House in between. In my view, this detracted from the value of my own honour. I would therefore like to call for the abolition of the automatic award of honours to political office-holders.
Which Dutch researcher, collector or stakeholder would you like to pass the baton to?
Laurens Stroek: I believe that it is not only the established names who should be featured, but also the younger talent.
Name Erik Müller
Place of birth Hoorn
Year of birth 1979
Occupation: Information specialist in the public sector
Contact address erikhmuller@hotmail.com
Since when have you been actively involved with orders of chivalry and honours?
I started collecting in 1981. I was 8 years old at the time.
I have also been conducting research since 2010.
What is the reason or motivation behind your interest in orders of knighthood and honours?
Three things came together more or less at the same time: until I was six, I collected stamps. My grandmother had a beautiful and complete collection. I had hoped to inherit it, but when she passed away, the collection was auctioned off. It only fetched 600 guilders. The disappointment at the collection being auctioned off, combined with the meagre proceeds, meant I stopped collecting straight away. A little later, we were living in England, where the commander of a naval vessel came to visit my father. He wore four batons, which fascinated me greatly. Later that week, I was given those batons. This was followed by my father’s Officer’s Service Cross and my grandfather’s Mobilisation War Cross.
My mother gave me the book *Collecting is also an art*, which contained a story about Henny Meijer and his collection.
When I was 10 years old, we moved back to The Hague. Many ministers, ambassadors, ‘Engelandvaarders’, resistance fighters, former military personnel and other dignitaries lived there. I went to visit them to see if they could add anything to my collection. In Brussels, I visited the former Secretary-General of NATO, Joseph Luns, who showed me his orders of knighthood. When I asked if he had anything for my collection, Luns replied: ‘No, I collect myself’. However, I did subsequently receive a miniature knight in the Order of the Netherlands Lion from Luns’s father, the painter and draughtsman Huib Luns.
What is your area of interest?
Official Dutch honours recognised by the King from 1815 onwards.
There are approximately 350 official Dutch honours; 25 of these are still missing from my collection. I mainly conduct research into the missing items and into a few niche topics. I publish exclusively in the magazine Decorare.
Do you have any orders of knighthood or honours yourself?
I have the Four Days’ March Cross. In the future, I would like to walk the Four Days’ March again.
What is your favourite decoration and why?
The Teutonic Order, Brandenburg Bailiwick, and the old model of the Order of the House by August Witte. Both for aesthetic reasons.
Which order of knighthood or honour would you yourself like to receive one day?
For the collection, every Military Order of William remains a fine addition. I am also still looking for a Commander of the Order of the Golden Ark!
Who do you think deserves a royal honour?
Paddy Maine: he was awarded the DSO four times; there has long been a movement in the United Kingdom to award him the Victoria Cross. That really ought to happen.
Aletta Jacobs: never received a knighthood.
Truus van Lier: a resistance fighter about whom a book by Jessica van Geel was published in 2022.
Sigrid Kaag: she was a minister, party leader and has held, and continues to hold, important international posts.
Rob Bauer: the Netherlands’ highest-ranking military officer at NATO. He did receive the Golden Lion of Nassau from the King, but was not awarded any of the Dutch orders of merit upon his retirement.
Which Dutch researcher, collector or stakeholder would you like to pass the baton to?
Erik Müller: fellow collector; he created a wonderful website and is a go-to expert and source of knowledge for many.
Name Willem de Boer
Place of birth: Leiden
Year of birth 1973
Occupation entrepreneur
Contact address oudsitio@gmail.com
Please get in touch if you have any ideas for a collaboration
