Relatives of people who have been awarded an honour by the queen have to pay if they want to keep the decoration after death, outgoing home affairs minister Ank Bijleveld confirmed on Wednesday.

Relatives can keep the decoration for a year after the death of their loved one but then must pay a deposit of upwards of €193 if they want to hold on to it for longer. Deposits have been required since 1995 but the government has now granted family members a year’s grace.
The decoration is simply a symbol of the honour bestowed on the recipient by the queen and must be handed back after death, the minister said.
Giving the decorations as a gift would cost too much money and there is a risk that they could be sold, she said.