Order of the Netherlands Lion

Order of the Dutch Lion Orde van de Nederlandse Leeuw
The Cross of a Knight (3rd grade) of the Order of the Dutch Lion
Awarded by Kingdom of the Netherlands
Type	Chivalric order with three degrees
Motto	VIRTUS NOBILITAT
Awarded for	Those with merits of a very exceptional nature for society
Status	Currently constituted
Chancellor	Lieutenant General J.H. de Kleyn
Grades (w/ post-nominals)	Knight Grand Cross Knight Commander Knight
Former grades	Brother
Statistics
Established	29 September 1815
Precedence
Next (higher)	Honorary Medal for Charitable Assistance in Gold
Next (lower)	Order of Orange-Nassau
Ribbon bar of the Order of the Netherlands Lion

The Order of the Dutch Lion (Dutch: De Orde van de Nederlandse Leeuw, French: L'Ordre du Lion Néerlandais) is an order of the Netherlands which was first created on 29 September 1815 by King William I of the Netherlands.

The Order of the Dutch Lion was until recently awarded upon eminent individuals from all walks of life, including generals, ministers of the crown, mayors of large towns, professors and leading scientists, industrialists, high ranking civil servants, presiding judges and renowned artists. It could therefore be considered the Dutch equivalent of the Order of the Bath. Since 1980 the Order has been primarily used to recognise merit in the arts, science, sport and literature; others have been awarded the Order of Orange Nassau instead.

The Order of the Dutch Lion ranks after the coveted Order of William, which is only awarded for military merit. Every year on the Queen's official birthday, April 30, several appointments in the Order are made public. The second and third class of the Order are not awarded to foreigners; they are eligible for the Order of Orange Nassau or the Order of the Crown instead.

The Queen of the Netherlands is the Grand Master of the Order. The Order is issued in three classes. There was also a Medal for "brothers" which had not been conferred since 1960. The brothers became extinct and the grade was abolished in 1994.

Grades

The following classes and grades exist for the Order of the Dutch Lion:

1. Knight Grand Cross - Reserved for members of the Royal Family, foreign Heads of State and a select group of former prime ministers, Princes and Cardinals. Wears the badge on a sash on the right shoulder, plus the star on the left chest.
2. Knight Commander - Usually conferred upon Dutch Nobel Prize winners, a few distinguished artists, writers and politicians. Wears the badge on a necklet, plus an identical breast cross on the left chest.
3. Knight - Until recently this was the decoration conferred upon members of "the establishment". Wears the badge on a ribbon on the left chest.
4. Brother - No longer issued; see section below. Wore the medal on a ribbon on the left chest.

Insignia

The badge of the Order is a gilt, white-enamelled Maltese Cross, with the monogram "W" (for King William I) between the arms of the cross. The obverse central disc is in blue enamel, bearing the motto Virtus Nobilitat (Virtue Ennobles). The reverse central disc is plain golden, with the lion from the Netherlands coat-of-arms. The badge hangs from a royal crown.

The breast cross of the Commander is identical (although somewhat larger) to the obverse of the badge of the Order.

The star of the Grand Cross is a gilt 8-pointed star with straight rays; the obverse of the badge of the Order, minus the crown, appears at its centre.

The ribbon of the Order is blue with yellow stripes near the border.

A star as worn by the Knights-Grandcross

The Brothers

Associated with the Order of the Netherlands Lion was the class known as the Brother, which has not been conferred in living memory. It was awarded to those, usually of a lower social class, who performed useful acts, self-sacrifice or other acts of kindness towards fellow human beings (for example, risking one's life to save others from grave danger). The award came with an annual payment of 200 guilders, of which half would be paid to the widow(er) at the death of the award holder.

The badge of honour for Brothers was a silver medal, with the lion from the Netherlands coat-of-arms on the obverse, and the motto Virtus Nobilitat (Virtue Ennobles) on the reverse.

The ribbon for Brothers was blue with a single yellow central stripe.

Selected recipients

Knight Grand Cross

• Bernardus Alfrink
• Kofi Annan
• Antonio Moreira de Barros (1880)^[1]
• Charles Ruijs de Beerenbrouck
• Josip Broz Tito (1970)^[2]
• Winston Churchill (1946)^[3]
• Hendrikus Colijn
• Willem Drees
• Sipko Drijber (1939)
• Conrad Helfrich
• Willem Hendrik Alexander Carel van Heeckeren van Kell
• Johannes de Jong
• Helmut Kohl
• Ruud Lubbers
• Joseph Luns
• Anne van Nagell van Ampsen
• Pieter van Vollenhoven (2004)
• Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani (2011)

Knight Commander

• Karel Appel
• Jan Carel Ferdinand d'Aulnis de Bourouill
• Nicolaas Beets
• Gerrit Braks (1990)
• Corneille (Guillaume Cornelis van Beverloo), 1997
• Paul Crutzen
• Isaäc Arend Diepenhorst (1986)
• Jan Donner (1951)
• Karel Doorman
• Wim Duisenberg (1997)
• Abraham George Ellis
• Carel Coenraad Geertsema
• Andries Cornelis Dirk de Graeff
• Johan François van Hogendorp van Heeswijk
• Johan Frederic Hoffmann
• Gerard 't Hooft
• Henk Koning (26 oktober 1981)
• Jeroen Krabbé
• Kees van Lede (2003)
• Jacob Maris
• Hans van Mierlo (1982)
• Engel Pieter de Monchy
• Adriaan Morriën (1999)
• Harry Mulisch (1997)
• Ab Osterhaus
• Willem Gerard van de Poll
• Folkert Posthuma (1938)
• Johan Willem Quarles van Ufford (1947)
• Jan de Quay (1967)
• Gerard Reve (1998)
• Heije Schaper (1967)
• Piet Steenkamp (1990)
• Ko Suurhoff (1966)
• Maurits Pico Diederik van Sytzama
• Johan Rudolph Thorbecke
• Johan Willem Quarles van Ufford (1947)
• Joop den Uyl
• Joris in 't Veld (1952)
• Martinus Veltman
• Willem de Vlugt (1932)
• Jan Messchert van Vollenhoven (1866)
• Anne Vondeling (1979)

Knight

• Wim Aantjes (1970)
• Hette Abma (1976)
• Horatius Albarda
• Daniel Johannes von Balluseck
• Driekus Barendregt (1995)
• André Batenburg
• Ria Beckers (1989)
• Relus ter Beek
• Sam Bentinck
• Isaäc Burchard Diederik van den Berch van Heemstede
• Eeltjo van Beresteyn
• Edo Johannes Bergsma
• Hendrik Arend Beusekamp
• Paul Biegel (1999)
• Maarten Biesheuvel (2008)
• Daniel Jan Bijleveld (1843)
• Hendrik Bijleveld
• Jean François Bijleveld (1839)
• Cornelis Lodewijk van der Bilt (1929)
• Hugo Willibrord Bloemers (1961)
• Klaas de Boer
• Willem Boetje
• Archibald Theodoor Bogaardt
• Allard van der Borch van Verwolde (1898)
• Els Borst (1989)
• Corstiaan Bos (1973)
• Isaac van den Bosch
• Johannes Bosscha Jr.
• Huibert Gerard Boumeester
• Gerrit Braks
• Titus Brandsma (1939)
• Henk van den Breemen
• Laurens Jan Brinkhorst (1978)
• Edward Brongersma (1975)
• Frans Brüggen (2003)
• Anthony Brummelkamp Jr. (1905)
• François de Casembroot
• Job Cohen (1994)
• Louis Couperus (1923)
• Hans Couzy
• Isaäc Lambertus Cremer van den Berch van Heemstede
• Willibrord Davids (1995)
• Willem Karel van Dedem
• Isaäc Arend Diepenhorst (1962)
• Herman Jacob Dijckmeester
• Cor van Dis Jr. (1983)
• Cor van Dis Sr. (1951)
• Herman Gerrit Jacobus van Doesburgh
• Jan Donner (1925)
• Job Drijber
• Pieter Droogleever Fortuyn (1929)
• Wim Duisenberg (1978)
• Linda van Dyck (2010)
• Edzo Hommo Ebels (1930)
• Maarten Engwirda (1988)
• Warmold Albertinus van der Feltz (1873)
• Herman Finkers
• Pieter van Foreest (1908)
• J. H. L. F. von Franck
• Dzsingisz Gabor (1994)
• Florentino García Martínez (2008)
• Frans Gijzels
• Jan Glastra van Loon (1975)
• Jaap Glasz (1986)
• Marinus van der Goes van Naters (1951)
• Bob Goudzwaard (1992)
• Theo de Graaf (1960)
• Peter Graaff
• Andries Cornelis Dirk de Graeff
• Dirk de Graeff van Polsbroek (1885)
• Sibrand Gratama (1824)
• Suze Groeneweg (1937)
• Anky van Grunsven
• Joannes ter Haar
• Bert Haars (1981)
• Maarten 't Hart (2003)
• Jan Dirk van der Harten
• Floris den Hartog (1956)
• Gerrit Jan van Heek
• Willem van Heeckeren van Kell (1870)
• Schelto van Heemstra (1905)
• Gerardus Philippus Helders
• Pieter Christiaan Jacob Hennequin (1894)
• Johannes van der Hoeven
• Robert Holl (2007)
• J. L. den Hollander
• Pieter van den Hoogenband
• Frank Houben (1991)
• Govert Huyser
• Gerrit IJsselstein
• Frederik Bernard s'Jacob
• Cor de Jager (1978)
• Bob de Jong
• Paulus de Jong (2007)
• Hank de Jonge
• Jacques de Kadt
• Jan Kan (1949)
• Gerrit Hendrik Kersten (1931)
• André Kloos (1966)
• Cornelis Knulst
• Hans Kolfschoten
• Henk Koning (1981)
• Ton Koopman (2003)
• Constantijn Kortmann (2009)
• Richard Krajicek
• Sven Kramer (2010)
• Neelie Kroes (1981)
• Herman Johannes Lam
• Peter Lankhorst (1994)
• Willem van Lanschot
• Ad Lansink (1990)
• Meindert Leerling (1994)
• Paul de Leeuw (2007) ^[4]
• Reinbert de Leeuw (2008)
• Hannie van Leeuwen (1978)
• Luigi van Leeuwen
• Willem Levelt (1998)
• Diderik van Leyden Gael (1841)
• Hans Liberg (2008)
• Cornelis Jan van Lienden
• René van der Linden (1988)
• Hans Linthorst Homan (1921)
• Jan Tijmens Linthorst Homan
• Johannes Linthorst Homan
• Joghem van Loghem
• Fernando Lopes da Silva (2001)
• Hugo Loudon
• Pieter Lycklama à Nijeholt
• Hanja Maij-Weggen (1994)
• Henri Marchant (1908)
• Wim Mateman (1992)
• Willem Mengelberg (1907, removed 1948)
• Vincent Mentzel (2007)
• Harm van der Meulen (1986)
• Pim Mulier
• Assueer Jacob van Nagell van Ampsen (1911)
• Christien Jacques Adrien van Nagell van Ampsen (1834)
• Justinus Egbert Hendrik van Nagell van Ampsen (1874)
• Arno Nicolaï (1971)
• Émile de Nieuwerkerke
• Ed Nijpels
• Hubertus Cornelis Joseph Maria van Nispen tot Sevenaer (1887)
• Arend Odé
• Lucas Oldenhuis Gratama (1880)
• Ria Oomen (1994)
• Hendrik Jan Oosting (1836/1837)
• Pieter Oud (1925)
• Johan Æmilius Abraham van Panhuys
• Jacob Adriaan Nicolaas Patijn (1921)
• Jacob Gerard Patijn (1881)
• Adriaan Paulen (1982)
• Jan Mathijs Peters (1958)
• Leonard Antoon Hubert Peters (1952)
• Frits Philips
• Folkert Posthuma (1920)
• Jan Hendrik Jacob Quarles van Ufford
• Johan Willem Quarles van Ufford
• Jan de Quay
• Theo Quené (1971)
• Anthony Gerhard Alexander van Rappard (1839)
• Godefridus Raupp
• Johannis de Rijke (1913)^[5]
• Hedzer Rijpstra
• Harry van Roekel (1988)
• Harm Roelfsema
• Marte Röling (2010)
• Martin van Rooijen (1978)
• Henk van Rossum
• Victor Henri Rutgers (1922)
• Nora Salomons (1985)
• Nicolien Sauerbreij (2010)
• Jan Evert Scholten
• Jan Nico Scholten (1983)
• Willem Albert Scholten
• Henri Johan van der Schroeff
• Ramses Shaffy (2002)
• Jan Siebelink (2009)
• Ad Simonis
• Harm Smeenge
• Max van der Stoel (1966)
• Ko Suurhoff (1951)
• Maurits Pico Diederik van Sytzama (1831)
• Shinkichi Tajiri (2007)
• Floris Takens (2005)
• Sjeng Tans (1965)
• Corry Tendeloo (1954)
• Arnold Tilanus (1973)
• Herman Tollius
• Teun Tolman
• Frederik Cornelis Tromp (1888)
• Mark Tuitert (2010)
• Albert Uderzo (2006)
• Harry van der Kamp (2010)
• Herman van Veen (2008)
• Rienk van Veen (1909)
• Sietze Douwes van Veen
• Hans Verheijen
• Evert Vermeer (1955)
• Gustave Verspijck
• Willem Adriaan Viruly Verbrugge (1861)
• Adriaan Vis (1978)
• Paul Vitanyi (2007)
• Bas van der Vlies (1994)
• Arie van der Vlis
• Bram van der Vlugt (2001)
• Willem de Vlugt (1923)
• Adriaan Volker (1903)
• Anne Vondeling (1958)
• Frans Vonk de Both
• Arthur Eduard Joseph van Voorst tot Voorst
• Coenraad van der Voort van Zijp (1920)
• Jan Willem Jacobus de Vos van Steenwijk (1888)
• Jan Hendrik de Waal Malefijt
• Gerard van Walsum
• Henk Waltmans (1987)
• Jan Weitkamp
• Dirk van der Wel
• Franciscus Hubertus van Wichen
• David de Wied
• Hans Wiegel
• Frans Wolters (1994)
• Ad van der Woude
• Ireen Wüst (2006)
• Pieter Zandt (1933)
• Henk Zeevalking
• Alfred Rudolph Zimmerman
• Jan David Zocher (1845)
• Guus Zoutendijk

Other Names, not in above alphabetic order:

• Emmy Verhey (?)
• L.E.J. Brouwer (1932)
• Henri Wassenbergh (1989) ^[6]
• Mohammad Reza Pahlavi (1959)
• Emperor Akihito (1991)
• Hartmut Haenchen (1996)
• Paul Panhuysen (1998)
• Gerard Reve (1998)
• Rudi Fuchs (1998)
• Ed van den Heuvel (1999)
• Alexander Schrijver (2005)
• Elly Ameling (2008)
• Cees Dam (2007)
• Hans van Manen (2007)
• Hendrik Lenstra (2009)
• Edward Noort (2009)
• Ram L. Lakhina (2009)
• Detlef Lohse (2010) ^[7]

See also

• Military William Order
• Order of Orange Nassau
• Dutch Cross of Resistance

References

1. ^ Almanak Laemmert,Rio de Janeiro - Brazil 1888, pg 109
2. ^ Bilo je časno živjeti s Titom. RO Mladost, RO Prosvjeta, Zagreb, February 1981. (pg. 102)
3. ^ http://www.winstonchurchill.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=300
4. ^ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0498794/bio
5. ^ Noord-Beveland, Standbeelden Johannis de Rijke, Colijnsplaat; honor awarded January 17, 1913.
6. ^ Fenema, H. Peter van and Hanneke Hoek. (1992). "Biography of Henri A. Wessenbergh," Air and Space Law: De Lege Ferenda : Essays in Honour of Henri A. Wassenbergh, pp. xiv.
7. ^ http://www.universiteittwente.nl/news/koninklijke-onderscheiding-detlef-lohse

External links

• Order of the Netherlands Lion - Official website