Last year, Karel van den Berg from Hoogeveen received a medal of honor for his efforts as an organist. Today he can add a royal distinction to that list. The 77-year-old organist of the Goede Herderkerk in Hoogeveen has been appointed Member of the Order of Orange Nassau.
Mayor Karel Loohuis of Hoogeveen attended the church service this morning and afterwards he surprised Karel van den Berg with the award.
During the church service, attention was already paid to the Hoogevener, because he started as organist at the Goede Herderkerk on September 15, 1983 and will therefore celebrate his 40th anniversary next week. In addition to being an organist, he also fulfills all kinds of volunteer functions within the church, such as maintaining the organ and keeping the church building clean.
Van de Berg started playing the organ at the age of 10. He played for 15 years in his then hometown of Nieuwkoop. After moving to Hoogeveen, he was involved as organist at the Ichtuskerk in Hoogeveen for 10 years, after which he became organist at the Goede Herderkerk. At the end of last year he received a certificate with a medal of honor from the Protestant Church in the Netherlands on account of his 65th anniversary as an organist.