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Category: Netherlands

The Resistance Star East Asia

The Resistance Star East Asia (Verzetsster Oost-Azië) was created to commemorate the resistance against the Japanese occupation of Indonesia.

The Resistance Star East Asia (or Verzetsster Oost-Azië in Dutch) was created by royal decree on 26 October 1948 by Queen Juliana to commemorate the resistance against the Japanese occupation of Indonesia, which went underground after the capitulation of the Royal Dutch East Indies Army. This resistance suffered tremendous losses in live.

The medal honors the Dutch subjects in the Netherlands East Indies who showed strength of mind, determination, or solidarity, and performed praise-worthily help for Dutchmen that were made a prisoner of war or interned by the enemy during World War II. Also those of the Dutch resistance in Southeast Asia are honored.

Due to the loss of the archive of the Resistance Star a lot of historiography about this award is lost. Since 1948 the Resistance Star is awarded in total of 471 times. The star is a high award and has precedence just after the Bronze Lion.

The Resistance Star East Asia Design

The bronze six-pointed star with a flaming sun and the words “de geest overwint” (The spirit triumphs) was designed by Frans Smits.

The star is attached to a purple ribbon which has two golden lanes in the middle. The colors are symbolic: the gold-yellow remembers the custom in Southeast Asia to wrap a valuable gift in a gold-colored cloth. At the reverse side the text “maart 1942 – O.Azië – augustus 1945” (“March 1942 – East Asia – Augustus 1945”) is inscribed.

The Bronze Lion

The Bronze Lion (Bronzen Leeuw) is a high Royal Dutch award intended for servicemen who have shown extreme bravery and leadership in battle.

The Bronze Lion (or Bronzen Leeuw in Dutch) is a high Royal Dutch award intended for servicemen who have shown extreme bravery and leadership in battle favoring The Netherlands.

It was first created in 1944 and has since been issued 1210 times. Proposals for an award are reviewed by the Dutch Board for Bravery Awards, which is part of the ministry of Defense. If awarded they are enforced by a Royal Decree. In some special cases, the Bronze Lion can however be awarded to Dutch or foreign civilians.

The Bronze Lion has precedence after the Order of the House of Orange, but is the second highest military decoration still being awarded for bravery (only preceded by the Military William Order).

The Bronze Lion Design

The Bronze Lion is a cross in bronze, covered by a round shield. On the front is a relief of the crowned Dutch Lion.

The cross is attached to a 37 millimeter wide ribbon, divided into nine equal vertical stripes, alternately orange and ‘Nassau blue’, the strips on either edge are Nassau blue. It is possible for a single person to receive more than one award of the Bronze Lion, in which case a number ‘2’ in gold is added on the ribbon of the Bronze Lion.

The Honorary Medal for Charitable Assistance

The Honorary Medal for Charitable Assistance is one of the oldest decorations for bravery in the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

The Honorary Medal for Charitable Assistance (or Erepenning voor Menslievend Hulpbetoon in Dutch) was created at 18 June 1822 and is after the Military William Order the oldest decoration for bravery in the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

The Honorary Medal is the highest civilian decoration still being awarded for bravery, and is specifically for those who carried out a voluntary act of bravery or self-sacrifice, with an emphasis on charity.

The medal can be awarded in gold, silver or bronze. Awarding is on basis by nomination of the Netherlands government and by royal decree. The golden medal has precedence only after the Dutch Cross of Resistance (also a civilian bravery decoration, but not awarded anymore), and the silver and bronze medals have precedence after the Airman’s Cross (a military bravery award).

Lieutenant Alexander de Langle was the first person to be rewarded with this medal in 1821 for rescuing a sergeant who was stuck at the bottom of a well. Although this was considered an act of bravery, King William I did not deem it important enough to award the lieutenant the distinguished Military William Order, so inatead a new award for bravery was created: the Honorary Medal for Charitable Assistance.

The Honorary Medal for Charitable Assistance Design

In 1837 King William II decided by royal decree that the size of the golden, silver and bronze medals would be all 50 millimeter. Also his portrait was put on the medals.

Since 1849 the portrait of King William III was shown on the medals and from 1875 a portrait of the older and bold King William III.

When Emma of Waldeck and Pyrmont became the queen regent of the Netherlands she decided to put on the medal the portrait of her minor daughter Queen Wilhelmina. In 1897 a new type of medal was created, the medal did get a ribbon to wear and also did get the same shape as the French “Medal of Saint Helena”.

Since 1912 the medal has its current shape. The medal is ovally shaped with at the top a stylised royal crown. On the medal a mother with three children is portrayed. The motif is taken from the city hall in Bolsward. At the reverse side the words “De koningin aan” (English: The Queen Rewards to) and also some space is reserved for an inscription. The medal is worn with an orange ribbon that has a red band in the middle. The medallion is today still award as gold, silver or bronze.

The Cross for Courage and Fidelity

The Cross for Courage and Fidelity is a military award established by Queen Emma of the Netherlands on 7 March 1898 by Royal Decree.

The Cross for Courage and Fidelity (or Kruis voor Moed en Trouw in Dutch) is a military award established by Queen Emma of the Netherlands on 7 March 1898 by Royal Decree. The cross replaced the old Medal for Courage and Fidelity, which had limited prestige and status according to the Netherlands government.

The cross is the second-highest award of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, preceded only by the Military William Order. The cross was awarded to (and is still worn by) natives of the Netherlands East Indies that showed an exceptional display of bravery and fidelity.

The Governor-General of the Netherlands East Indies was authorized to award the cross. A total of 262 bronze and 13 silver crosses have been awarded, most of them in 1925. The last cross was awarded in 1927; after that natives and native soldiers of the Royal Dutch East Indies Army were also eligible to receive the Military William Order.

The cross, nicknamed the “Military William Order for natives”, has been regarded by many as discriminatory to the natives in the Netherlands East Indies.

The Cross for Courage and Fidelity Design

The cross has a resemblance to the Military William Order and is worn with the same ribbon as that order. The shape of the cross itself is somewhat different in the sense that the cross and crown are made of non-enameled silver.

On the cross of the Military William Order a gold spark rod is shown in the middle. However, on the cross for Courage and Fidelity, a heraldic Dutch Lion is shown. Between the arms of this cross two klewangs are added.

The text on the cross has the description “VOOR MOED EN TROUW” (English: for Courage and Fidelity) and at the back “Daden van Moed en Trouw in Nederlands-Indië door inlanders betoond” (English: Deeds of Courage and Fidelity in the Netherlands East Indies by natives awarded). Between the crown and cross is a spark rod, a distinguishing mark of the Order of the Golden Fleece or the Military William Order.

Those recipients who lost the cross during the Japanese occupation of Indonesia could receive a new cross but without an emblazoned crown.

The Dutch Cross of Resistance

The Cross of Resistance 1940-1945 (or Verzetskruis 1940–1945 in Dutch) is the second highest decoration for valor in the Netherlands.

The Cross of Resistance 1940-1945 (or Verzetskruis 1940–1945 in Dutch) is the second highest decoration for valor in the Netherlands.

The decoration was awarded for extreme bravery awarded to the Dutch Resistance. The Dutch resistance to the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands during World War II can be mainly characterized as non-violent, and was organized by the Communist Party, churches, and independent groups. A peak of over 300,000 people were hidden from German authorities in the autumn of 1944, tended to by some 60,000 to 200,000 illegal landlords and caretakers, and tolerated knowingly by some one million people, including a few incidental individuals among German occupiers and military.

Dutch counterintelligence, domestic sabotage, and communications networks eventually provided key support to Allied forces, beginning in 1944 and continuing until the Netherlands was fully liberated. A number of resistance groups specialized in saving Jewish children, including the Utrechtse Kindercomité, Landelijke Organisatie voor Hulp aan Onderduikers, Naamloze Vennootschap (NV), and Amsterdam Student Group.

The Cross was awarded 95 times (93 of them posthumously).

The Cross of Resistance Design

By Royal Decree of May 3rd 1946 the Resistance Cross was finally instituted. The formal disruption was: “The Bronze decoration of the Resistance Cross resembled a four armed cross, imbedded on a star of flames and covered with the Royal Crown. On the front one can find St. Joris fighting the dragon. On the arms of the cross are engraved the words ‘Trouw tot in den dood’. On the obverse one can find a flaming sword wit two broken chains“, all according to article 4 of the Royal Decree.

The ribbon is colored in Crimson Red with two golden orange lines.

The Order of Saint John in the Netherlands

The Order of Saint John in the Netherlands is a religious order dedicated to providing charitable and humanitarian services.

The Bailiwick of Brandenburg of the Chivalric Order of Saint John of the Hospital at Jerusalem (or Balley Brandenburg des Ritterlichen Ordens Sankt Johannis vom Spital zu Jerusalem in German), commonly known as the Order of Saint John or the Johanniter Order, is the German Protestant branch of the Knights Hospitaller, the oldest surviving chivalric order, which generally is considered to have been founded in Jerusalem in the year 1099 AD.

The medieval Dutch Bailiwick of Utrecht and Commandery of Haarlem formed parts of the German Langue (one of the “Tongues”, the major divisions of the medieval Order of Saint John) until, during the Reformation, they associated themselves with the reformed Bailiwick of Brandenburg. Both the Bailiwick of Utrecht and the Commandery of Haarlem were suppressed in 1810, during the Napoleonic occupation.

Dutch knights of the Bailiwick of Brandenburg formed their own commandery within the Johanniterorden in 1909, when the Dutch monarch afforded it royal protection; and the commandery separated from the German Johanniterorden in 1946.

The commandery became an independent order in 1958 and is known as Johanniter Orde in Nederland, now admitting noblewomen as well as noblemen. The Dutch monarch is an honorary commander. With the German and Swedish orders, the Dutch order helped found the Alliance of the Orders of St. John of Jerusalem on June 13, 1961.

The Order of Saint John in the Netherlands Design

Dutch insignia of the Johanniter Orde in Nederland replace Prussian eagles with the Dutch lion.

The Order of the Golden Ark

The Most Excellent Order of the Golden Ark is a Dutch order of merit established in 1971 by Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands.

The Most Excellent Order of the Golden Ark (or Orde van de Gouden Ark in Dutch) is a Dutch order of merit established in 1971 by Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands.

The order is awarded to people for major contributions to nature conservation. Although not awarded by the government of the Netherlands, it is considered by the government as a recognized chivalrous order.

Since its inception, over 300 people have been recognized by the award. Now that Prince Bernhard has died, the future of the order is uncertain.

The order has three grades:

  • Commander
  • Officer
  • Knight

The Order for Loyalty and Merit

The Order for Loyalty and Merit (or Orde van Trouw en Verdienste in Dutch) is a house order of the Dutch Royal House of Orange-Nassau.

The Order for Loyalty and Merit (or Orde van Trouw en Verdienste in Dutch) is a house order of the Dutch Royal House of Orange-Nassau. The Order came into being as a result of Queen Juliana‘s reorganization of The House Order of Orange in 1969.

The Order for Loyalty and Merit is conferred “upon those persons who have loyally and faithfully, and with merit and character assisted the Head of State or the members of the Royal House during their obligations and their daily work.”

The order has two grades:

  1. Cross for Loyalty and Merit in Gold;
  2. Cross for Loyalty and Merit in Silver.

The Order for Loyalty and Merit Design

The cross in gold or silver is worn on a ribbon on the left chest. The decorations are awarded after 25 and 40 years of service.

The monarch is lenient as far as the number of years in her service are concerned. Hardly anyone manages to work until his or her 65th birthday. Many servants of the Queen receive their Cross of merit for Loyalty and Merit in Gold after 35 years in the Royal Household.

The Order of the Crown (Netherlands)

The Order of the Crown is a house order that came into being as a result of the reorganization of the Order of the House of Orange.

The Order of the Crown (or Kroonorde in Dutch) is a house order of the Dutch Royal House that came into being as a result of Queen Juliana‘s reorganization of the Order of the House of Orange in 1969.

The 18 classes of the house order were no longer felt to be appropriate in the ever more egalitarian Dutch society of the 1960s. The Order was divided into five subdivisions. As a house order, it is not subject to ministerial responsibility or influence but is awarded at the discretion of the Dutch monarch alone.

The Order of the Crown is intended for “foreigners who have rendered special service to the Dutch King or his House“. The former queen, Beatrix, instituted a silver medal to commemorate state visits.

The Order of the Crown has the traditional five grades and three medals. This allows the Dutch monarch to dispense the decorations according to rank especially during state visits.

The Order of the Crown Design

The insignia vary considerably depending on the grade:

  1. Grand Cross (Grootkruis) – badge may be worn on a sash on the right shoulder, plus a 4-pointed star on the left chest;
  2. Grand Honorary Cross with Star (Groot erekruis met Plaque) – wears the badge on a necklet, plus a 4-pointed star on the left chest;
  3. Grand Honorary Cross (Groot erekruis) – wears the badge on a necklet;
  4. Honorary Cross with Rosette (Erekruis met Rozette) – wears the badge on a ribbon with a rosette on the left chest;
  5. Honorary Cross (Erekruis) – wears the badge on a ribbon on the left chest;
  6. Medals in Gold, Silver and Bronze (Medaille in goud, zilver en brons) – wears the medal on a ribbon on the left chest.

The Order of the House of Orange

The Order of the House of Orange is a dynastic order of the House of Orange-Nassau, the royal family of the Netherlands.

The Order of the House of Orange (or Huisorde van Oranje in Dutch) is a dynastic order of the House of Orange-Nassau, the royal family of the Netherlands. The order was instituted by Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands on 19 March 1905 and is not subject to ministerial responsibility or influence, but is awarded at the discretion of the Dutch monarch alone.

In 1905, Queen Wilhelmina felt the need for a House Order because the Order of the Oak Crown of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, used by her father and grandfather to reward Dutch subjects, was no longer available to her, as succession to the throne of Luxembourg was directed by the House treaty of the House of Nassau in a way comparable to the Salic Law within its constitution in 1890.

The Order of the House of Orange had a very complex nomenclature, with 18 different classes and medals.

More than 3200 decorations were conferred between 1905 and 1969, mostly to Court Dignitaries, the Queen’s household, and doctors and lawyers who could choose between sending a bill for their services or a decoration in the House Order.

Since the reorganization in 1969 the House Order itself has these grades:

  1. Grand Cross (Grootkruis) – badge may be worn on a sash on the right shoulder, plus an 8-pointed star on the left chest;
  2. Grand Honorary Cross (Groot erekruis) – wears the badge on a necklet;
  3. Honorary Cross (Erekruis) – wears the badge on a ribbon on the left chest.

The Order of the House of Orange Design

The insignia vary considerably amongst these awards; however they all share the same orange ribbon, symbolizing the House of Orange. The ribbon bar of the Order of the House of Orange was… well, orange.