There are still plenty of volunteers in our province who earn a ribbon. Just like last year, during the ribbon rain, most of the royal awards of our country were awarded during the ribbon rain: 670. That is 33 more than in 2024 and the highest number since 2010 (681). Nationally there is no province where the shower was so large.
The highest distinction – knight in the Order of the Netherlands Lion – was for musician Arjen Lucassen (65) from Oudemolen and Ronald Dekker (63) from Valkenswaard. Lucassen is known for, among others, the Waalwijk band Vengeance and rock operas. Dekker is described as a driven leader who has used his passion for technology and innovation to improve healthcare.
Knights in the Order of Oranje-Nassau
Piet Paantjens from Etten-Leur, active both locally and nationally for years, became a knight in the Order of Oranje-Nassau. This is special because it is not often the case in people who were once appointed as a member of the Order of Oranje Nassau. Peti Stevens from Goirle was also ‘knighted’: she has been committed to combating child abuse for many years. Wobine Buijs-Glaudemans, until recently mayor of Oss, also underwent a chivalrous ceremony. She holds numerous administrative functions.
Astrid van den Hoogenbandverver from Geldrop also received a chivalrous ribbon. Swimming was and is her lust and life. Her husband Cees-terrain and their son Pieter previously received a Royal Award (KO).
Speaking of families: in Heeze, Karel Bennenbroek (76) and his sister Ans van Gorp-Bennenbroek (73) and her husband Wil Van Gorp (75) were acclaimed at the same time.
Commitment to athletes and refugees
A glance at the decorandi shows that our province has countless clubs that cannot function without their often quiet powers. For whom nothing is too much, even if they themselves are disabled or (dead) sick. They make an effort for organizations such as the Dickens Festival, ice clubs, theater clubs, sports clubs, the flower parade in Zundert, local broadcasters, the Holy Blood Procession in Boxtel, Vluchtelingenwerk and Kerken.
The chairman of the Ulu Mosque in Bergen op Zoom, Lokman Yilmaz, and Victor Amukwaman and Manus Latupeirissa, intensively involved with the Moluccan communities in Nistelrode and Vught, were also honored. And what about Corry Daalhof (67) from Valkenswaard, who has been with the … Harley-Davidson virus for years. Or the 74-year-old Ad van Uffelen, the living war archive from Rucphen.
It is also striking that many are (have been) active abroad. For example, Anna Bouwman from Etten-Leur is nicknamed ‘The Angel’ in Gambia because of her commitment to psychiatric care. She becomes a member in the Order of Oranje-Nassau.
The municipality of Land van Cuijk had by far the most decorandi (34). Was Gilze en Rijen last year the only municipality with only women who were decorated; This time in Drimmelen there were only nice words for men.
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The youngest and the oldest
Hugo Maas from Netersel (29) is one of the youngest people from Brabant ever with a ko. As an 11-year-old, he founded De BuntPollen in his hometown Netersel Jeugdvereniging. Since then, the councilor of the municipality of Bladel (he also has time for that) has been active at many clubs. Driek van den Kieboom (92) is probably the oldest distinguished Brabander. He is indispensable in the first aid and the Heemkundekring de Steenen Kamer in his hometown of Steenbergen.
For Gerard Hoefnagels, active at the carnival, football and a neighborhood association in Heusden, it was a double party. He will be 69 this Friday.
Here you can see how many people in your municipality have received a ribbon.
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