DutchNews.nl - DutchNews.nl brings daily news from The Netherlands in English

21 May 2025
Newsletter Donate Advertise
  • News
  • Life in the Netherlands
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
  • Search
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Art and culture
  • Sport
  • Europe
  • Society
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Housing
  • Education
  • News
    • Home
    • Economy
    • Art and culture
    • Sport
    • Europe
    • Society
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
    • Education
  • Life in the Netherlands
    • Latest
    • Opinion
    • Books
    • Travel
    • 10 Questions
    • Learning Dutch
    • Inburgering with DN
    • Food & Drink
    • Ask us anything
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
    • Team
    • Donate
    • Advertise
    • Writing for Dutch News
    • Contact us
    • Privacy
    • Newsletter
  • Search

It’s raining honours: 2,912 people are given official royal recognition

April 26, 2018
Photo: Dolph Cantrijn/Hollandse Hoogte
Photo: Dolph Cantrijn/Hollandse Hoogte

Darts player and world champion Michael van Gerwen is one of the 2,912 people given an award in the King’s birthday honours list this year.  Van Gerwen, who is just 29, is also the youngest recipient on the list.

The annual honours list is always announced the day before the monarch’s birthday and focuses mainly on people who have made a major contribution to society, usually in the form of volunteering.

The oldest recipient in 2018 is a Mr Du Pon from Vlaardingen, who is 105 and has been an active volunteer since 1934, broadcaster NOS said.

Other famous faces on the list are television presenter Caroline Tensen who was recognised for her fund raising activities and work with the charity Orange Babies.

Rapper Angelo Diop, who is better known as ‘rotjoch’, was also made a knight in the Order of Oranje Nassau for his work with young hiphop artists.

In total, 2,287 people were nominated for an award and 375 applications were rejected. Some 64% of the recipients were male and the average age is 60.

Most people were made members of the Order of Oranje-Nassau – which has six levels. That honour was introduced in 1892 for foreigners and the ‘lower classes’. Just 18 people were given an honour in the more exclusive Order of the Dutch Lion.

The first Dutch honour was introduced by king Willem 1 in 1815.

With pride i can say today i have received the title “Ridder in de Orde van Oranje-Nassau” (MBE) from the King. It’s a honor. pic.twitter.com/hGL8Ax5uMo

— Michael Van Gerwen (@MvG180) April 26, 2018

Share this article
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Copy URL
Society
Thank you for donating to DutchNews.nl.

We could not provide the Dutch News service, and keep it free of charge, without the generous support of our readers. Your donations allow us to report on issues you tell us matter, and provide you with a summary of the most important Dutch news each day.

Make a donation
Latest
Show more
Police confirm bodies in car are missing children and father
Country safety reports for asylum claims to be kept secret
"The Netherlands is innovative yet surprisingly traditional"
Drents Museum helmet heist "was ordered by Romanian gangsters"
Dutch households advised to stash away €70 in cash per adult
NewsHomeEconomyArt and cultureSportEuropeSocietyEnvironmentHealthHousingEducation
Life in the NetherlandsLatestOpinionBooksTravel10 QuestionsLearning DutchInburgering with DNFood & DrinkAsk us anything
About usTeamDonateAdvertiseWriting for Dutch NewsContact usPrivacyNewsletter
© 2025 DutchNews | Cookie settings

Help us to keep providing you information about coronavirus in the Netherlands.

Many thanks to everyone who has donated to DutchNews.nl in recent days!

We could not provide this service without you. If you have not yet made a contribution, you can do so here.

The DutchNews.nl team

Donate now

Dutchnews Survey

Please help us making DutchNews.nl a better read by taking part in a short survey.

Take part now