Orders, decorations, and medals of the Netherlands

File:Ster van de Orde van de Nederlandse Leeuw.jpg

Grand cross of the Order of the Netherlands Lion.

In the Dutch honours system, most orders are the responsibility of ministers of the Netherlands Government. The house orders, however, are awarded at the discretion of the Dutch monarch alone.

Over the centuries, hundreds of medals, decorations for merit or valour and orders of knighthood have been instituted by the successive governments of the Netherlands. The oldest were founded by the counts of Holland. Their successors, the House of Burgundy, founded the famous Order of the Golden Fleece. This order still exists in Spain and in the Austrian imperial House.

The Republic of the Seven United Netherlands did not possess an order of knighthood. Instead so called "Beloningspenningen", golden medals on golden chains, were given as gifts to ambassadors and successful admirals.

In 1781 a medal called the "Doggersbank medaille" was awarded to the officers who took part in the Battle of the Dogger Bank against the British fleet. It was the first modern Dutch decoration.

The Batavian Republic, founded after the French invasion of 1795, did not institute any orders or medals.

The Kingdom of Holland was founded in 1805 to provide a throne for Napoleon's younger brother Lodewijk Napoleon Bonaparte. The "King of Holland" founded an "Orde van de Unie", (English: Order of the Union, later dubbed "Order of Holland" then "Royal Order of Holland").

The first king of the Netherlands, William I, founded the Military Order of William and a civilian order, the Order of the Netherlands Lion.

His successors founded several orders of merit and some two hundred medals, stars and crosses. The Netherlands never established a colonial order for the Dutch East Indies.

The order of wear of Dutch Honours is published in the Staatscourant. The orders, decorations and medals are listed in that order below.

Orders of chivalry and similar distinctions

• File:Ster van de Militaire Willemsorde.jpg File:NLD Military Order of William BAR.svg Military William Order, founded on 30 April 1815 by King William I
• File:NLD Cross for Courage and Fidelity BAR.svg Cross for Courage and Fidelity (Kruis voor Moed en Trouw)
• File:NLD Expedition Cross Honorary Sabre bar.svg Honorary Sabre (Eresabel)
• File:NLD Cross of Resistance bar.svg Dutch Cross of Resistance (Verzetskruis 1940–1945)
• File:NLD Honorary Medal for Charitable Assistance - gold bar.svg Honorary Medal for Charitable Assistance (Erepenning voor Menslievend Hulpbetoon)
• File:Ster van de Orde van de Nederlandse Leeuw.jpg File:Order of the Netherlands Lion (Knight) - Ribbon bar.svg Order of the Netherlands Lion, founded on 29 September 1815 by King William I
• File:Ster van de Orde van Oranje-Nassau.jpg File:Order of Orange-Nassau ribbon.svg Order of Orange-Nassau, founded on 4 April 1892 by the Queen regent Emma

House orders

• File:Halskruis van de Orde van de Gouden Leeuw van Nassau.png File:Order of the Golden Lion of Nassau Ribbon bar.svg Order of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau, founded on 31 March 1858 by King-Grand Duke William III
• File:Huisorde van Oranje Ridderkruis.jpg File:Order of the House of Orange - Ribbon bar.svg Order of the House of Orange, instituted by Queen Wilhelmina in 1905, reorganized by Queen Juliana in 1969
• File:Orde van Trouw en Verdienste Huisorde.jpg File:Order for Loyalty and Merit - Ribbon bar.svg Order for Loyalty and Merit, established as a separate group of the House Order of Orange by Queen Juliana in 1969
• File:Medal of Honour for Diligence and Ingenuity - Ribbon bar.svg Template:Ill (Eremedaille voor Voortvarendheid en Vernuft)
• File:Medal of Honour for Arts and Sciences - Ribbon bar.svg Template:Ill (Eremedaille voor Kunst en Wetenschap)
• File:Kroonorde Nederland ridderkruis.jpg File:Order of the Crown (Netherlands).svg Order of the Crown, established as a separate group of the House Order of Orange by Queen Juliana in 1969

State awards

Awards for bravery

• File:NLD Expedition Cross HM - gold bar.svg Honorable Mention (Eervolle Vermelding)
• File:NLD Bronze Lion bar.svg Bronze Lion (Bronzen Leeuw)
• File:NLD Resistance star East Asia 1942-1945 bar.svg Resistance Star East Asia (Verzetsster Oost-Azië)
• File:NLD Bronze Cross bar.svg Bronze Cross (Het Bronzen Kruis)
• File:NLD Cross of Merit bar.svg Cross of Merit (Kruis van Verdienste)
• File:NED Vliegerkruis BAR.svg Airman's Cross (Vliegerkruis)

Awards for merit

• File:NoBaton.png Medal of the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (Medaille van het Koninklijk Nederlands Meteorologisch Instituut)
• File:NLD Honorary Medal for Merits toward Museum Collections - gold bar.svg Museum Medal (Erepenning voor Verdiensten jegens Openbare Verzamelingen)
• File:NLD Flood Disaster Medal - silver bar.svg Flood Disaster Medal (Watersnoodmedaille)
• File:NLD De Ruyter Medal - gold bar.svg De Ruyter Medal (De Ruyter-medaille)
• File:NLD Medal of the Red Cross clasp bar.svg Medal of the Red Cross (Medaille van het Rode Kruis)
• File:NLD Medal of Recognition 1940–1945 - silver bar.svg Medal of Recognition 1940-1945 (Erkentelijkheidsmedaille)
• File:NLD Decoration of Merit - gold bar.svg Decoration of Merit in gold or silver (Ereteken voor Verdienste)

Commemorative awards for military operations

• File:NLD Silver Memorial Cross 1813–1815 bar.svg Silver Memorial Cross 1813-15, awarded 1865 (Zilveren Herdenkingskruis)
• File:NLD Expedition Cross 2 clasps bar.svg Expedition Cross (Ereteken voor Belangrijke Krijgsbedrijven)
• File:NLD Aceh medal bar.svg Aceh Medal (Atjeh-medaille)
• File:NLD Lombok Cross bar.svg Lombok Cross (Lombokkruis)
• File:NLD War Commemorative Cross clasp bar.svg War Commemorative Cross (Oorlogsherinneringskruis)
• File:NLD Resistance Memorial Cross bar.svg Resistance Commemorative Cross (Verzetsherdenkingskruis)
• File:NLD Decoration for Order and Peace clasp bar.svg Decoration for Order and Peace (Ereteken voor Orde en Vrede)
• File:NLD New Guinea Commemorative Cross clasp bar.svg New Guinea Commemorative Cross (Nieuw-Guinea Herinneringskruis)
• File:NLD Mobilisation War Cross bar.svg Mobilisation War Cross 1940-1945 (Mobilisatie-Oorlogskruis)
• File:NLD Cross for Law and Liberty clasp bar.svg Cross for Law and Liberty, for Korean service 1950-53 (Kruis voor Recht en Vrijheid)
• File:NLD Commemorative Medal UN Peace Operations BAR.svg Commemorative Medal UN Peace Operations (Herinneringsmedaille VN-Vredesoperaties)
• File:NLD Commemorative Medal Multinational Peace Operations BAR.svg Commemorative Medal Multinational Peace Operations (Herinneringsmedaille Multinationale Vredesoperaties)
• File:NLD Commemorative Medal for Peace Keeping Operations BAR.svg Commemorative Medal Peace Operations (Herinneringsmedaille Vredesoperaties)
• File:NLD Commemorative Medal for Humanitarian Assistance in Disasters clasp BAR.svg Commemorative Medal for Humanitarian Assistance in Disasters (Herinneringsmedaille voor Humanitaire Hulpverlening bij Rampen)
• File:NLD Kosovo Medal bar.svg Kosovo Medal (Kosovo-medaille)

Awards for faithful service

• File:NLD Officers' Cross - XV bar.svg Template:Ill (Onderscheidingsteken voor Langdurige Dienst als officier)
• File:NLD Decoration for Long and Loyal Service - gold bar.svg Template:Ill in gold, silver or bronze (Onderscheidingsteken voor Langdurige, Eerlijke en Trouwe Dienst)
• File:NLD Decoration for Long and Loyal Service Naval Coast Guard - gold bar.svg Decoration for Loyal Volunteer Service in the Coast Guard (Onderscheidingsteken voor trouwe dienst bij de Militaire Kustwacht)
• File:NLD Volunteer Medal Public Safety bar.svg Volunteer Medal Public Safety (formerly called Volunteers Medal) (Vrijwilligersmedaille Openbare Orde en Veiligheid)

Commemorative medals and awards for skill

• File:NLD Commemorative Medal Guard of Honour 1933.svg Queen Wilhelmina Inauguration Medal, 1898 (Inhuldigingsmedaille 1898)
• File:NLD Commemorative Medal 1926.svg Wedding Medal of Queen Wilhelmina and Duke Henry of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, 1901 (Huwelijksmedaille 1901)
• File:NLD Hague Peace Conference 1907 medal bar.svg Commemorative Medal of the Second Hague Peace Conference 1907 (Herinneringsmedaille aan de Tweede Internationale Vredesconferentie)
• File:NLD Commemorative Medal 1926.svg Royal Silver Wedding Medal, 1926 (Herinneringsmedaille 1926)
• File:NLD Commemorative Medal Guard of Honour 1933.svg Honor Guard Commemorative Medal, 1933 (Herinneringsmedaille 1933)
• File:NLD Wedding Medal 1937.svg Wedding Medal of Princess Juliana and Prince Bernhard, 1937 (Huwelijksmedaille 1937)
• File:NLD Inauguration Medal 1948.svg Queen Juliana Inauguration Medal, 1948 (Inhuldigingsmedaille 1948)
• File:NLD Commemorative Medal 1962.svg Royal Silver Wedding Medal of Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard, 1962 (Herinneringsmedaille 1962)
• File:NLD Wedding Medal 1966.svg Wedding Medal of Princess Beatrix and Claus van Amsberg, 1966 (Huwelijksmedaille 1966)
• File:NLD Inauguration Medal 1980.svg Queen Beatrix Inauguration Medal, 1980 (Inhuldigingsmedaille 1980)
• File:NLD Netherlands Antilles Visit Medal 1980.svg Netherlands Antilles Visit Medal, 1980 (Herinneringsmedaille bezoek aan de Nederlandse Antillen)
• File:NLD Wedding Medal 2002.svg Wedding Medal of Willem-Alexander and Máxima Zorreguieta, 2002 (Huwelijksmedaille 2002)
• File:NLD Inauguration Medal 2013.svg King Willem-Alexander Inauguration Medal, 2013 (Inhuldigingsmedaille 2013)
• File:NLD Caribbean Part of the Kingdom Visit Medal 2013.svg Caribbean Part of the Kingdom Visit Medal, 2013 (Herinneringsmedaille bezoek in 2013 aan het Caribisch deel van het Koninkrijk)
• File:NLD Commemorative Medal for State Visits.svg Commemorative Medal for State Visits (Herinneringsmedaille Buitenlandse Bezoeken)
• File:NLD Rietkerk Medal bar.svg Rietkerk Medal (Rietkerkpenning)
• File:NLD Navy Medal bar.svg Navy Foreign Service Medal (Marinemedaille)
• File:NLD Army Medal bar.svg Army Foreign Service Medal (Landmachtmedaille)
• File:NLD Marechaussee Medal bar.svg Marechaussee Foreign Service Medal (Marechausseemedaille)
• File:NLD Airforce Medal bar.svg Air Force Foreign Service Medal (Luchtmachtmedaille)
• File:NLD Voluntary Police Commemorative Medal 1948–98 bar.svg Voluntary Police Commemorative Medal 1948–98 (Herinneringsmedaille Vrijwillige Politie)
• File:NLD Medal of honour for Master Sharpshooter on rifle of the Royal Navy BAR.svg Master-Sharpshooter on Rifle of the Royal Navy (Eereteeken voor Meester-Scherpschutter op geweer der Koninklijke Marine)
• File:NLD Medal of honour for Master Gunner of the Royal Navy BAR.svg Master-Gunner on Rifle of the Royal Navy (Eereteeken voor Meester-Kanonnier der Koninklijke Marine)
• File:NLD Royal Medal of Shooting Contests bar.svg Royal Medal of Shooting Contests (Koninklijke Eereprijs voor Schietwedstrijden)
• File:NLD Medal for First Class Sharpshooters bar.svg Medal for First Class Sharpshooters (Eereteeken voor scherpschutters eerste klasse)
• KNIL (Royal Dutch East Indies Army) awards KNIL (Royal Dutch East Indies Army) awards

Other officially recognised knightly orders

The Dutch government allows the following orders of chivalry to be worn on military uniforms:

• File:SMOM-d1.svg Sovereign Military Order of Malta (Souvereine Militaire Orde van Malta)
• File:NLD Order of Saint John in the Netherlands bar.svg Order of Saint John in the Netherlands (Johanniter Orde in Nederland)
• File:NLD Teutonic Order - Bailiwick of Utrecht bar.svg Teutonic Order, Bailiwick of Utrecht (Ridderlijke Duitsche Orde, Balije van Utrecht)

Decorations instituted by H.R.H. Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands

• File:NLD Silver Carnation bar.svg Template:Ill (Zilveren Anjer)
• File:NLD Order of the Golden Ark bar.svg Order of the Golden Ark (Orde van de Gouden Ark)

Awards from Dutch private organizations

• File:NLD Medal of the Carnegie Hero Fund.svg Carnegie Hero Fund Medal (Medaille van het Carnegie Heldenfonds)
• File:NLD Mobilisation Cross 1914-1918 bar.svg Mobilisation Cross 1914-1918 (Mobilisatiekruis)
• File:NLD Air Protection Medal 1940 - 1945 bar.svg Template:Ill (Luchtbeschermingsmedaille)

• File:Vierdaagse Medal BAR.svg Cross for the Four Day Marches (Vierdaagse Kruis)
• File:NOC*NSF national sports medal BAR.svg Medal for Proven Athletic Skill of the Dutch Olympic Committee (Medaille voor vaardigheidsproeven van het Nederlands Olympisch Comité)
• File:NOC*NSF national pentathlon cross BAR.svg National Pentathlon Cross of the Dutch Sports Federation (Nationale Vijfkampkruis van de Nederlandse Sport Federatie)
• File:Royal Dutch Reserve Officers Association TMTP cross BAR.svg Military Performance Event Cross of the Royal Dutch Reserve Officers Association (Kruis van de Koninklijke Vereniging van Nederlandse Reserve-Officieren voor de Militaire Prestatietocht)
• File:Elfsteden Medal Bar.svg Eleven cities cross, medal for those who completed the Eleven cities long-distance skating tour (Elfstedenkruis)

Awards from international organizations

• United Nations Medal
• North Atlantic Treaty Organization Medal
• Western European Union Medal
• Multinational Force and Observers Medal
• European Community Monitor Mission Medal
• CSDP Medal
• Baltic Air Policing Medal

Literature and sources

• W.F. Bax, "Ridderorden, eereteekenen, draagteekens en penningen, betreffende de Weermacht van Nederland en Koloniën (1813-heden)", 1973
• H.G. Meijer, C.P. Mulder en B.W. Wagenaar, "Orders and Decorations of the Netherlands", 1984
• C.H. Evers, "Onderscheidingen", 2001
• J.H. van Zelm van Eldik, "Moed en Trouw", 2003
• O Schutte, De Orde van de Unie", 1985

External links

• Dutch Honours (in Dutch)
• Orders and Medals of the Netherlands (in Dutch)
• Ribbons of Dutch Orders and Medals (in Dutch)