More than 220 Limburgers received a royal award from their mayor on Tuesday during the national ribbon rain. And that is the lowest number of ribbons in the past 20 years.
According to a spokesperson for the province of Limburg, corona probably plays a role in the fact that the number is much lower this year. “Social life has come to a standstill for the past two years. And that is often a reason to request a ribbon. People often do voluntary work or are active in an association and that is precisely what has come to a halt.”
Top year
In 20 years, 2006 turned out to be a record year with 374 awards. Since 2011, the number of ribbons no longer exceeds 300. Over the past ten years, the number has been around 250. Traditionally, on the last working day before King’s Day, the chosen ones are recognized for their many years of dedication to sports, music and local history associations, parishes, foundations or as informal carers.
With the swords
During this rain of ribbons, 191 Limburgers were appointed Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau. 31 Limburgers received the badge that corresponds to the title Knight in the Order of Orange-Nassau. Two of them received this appreciation for their military efforts, which means that their ribbons are decorated with swords.
Two Officers
The highest award awarded this year is Officer in the Order of Orange-Nassau. Two Limburgers received this appointment on Tuesday.
One of them is Onno Hoes from Maastricht. He receives the award for his past efforts for COC Netherlands, Design Academy Eindhoven and the Center for Information and Documentation Israel. The former mayor of Maastricht is also active for the Maastricht Human Rights Prize Foundation, the United World Colleges Maastricht Foundation, the National Committee for 4 and 5 May and the VVD.
Also read: Onno Hoes Officer in the Order of Orange-Nassau
Ad Masclee from Cadier en Keer receives his award for his (inter)national pioneering role in the medical field of Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases. He is professor in this field at Maastricht University and head of the subsection of Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases at Maastricht UMC+. In addition, Mr. Masclee is active in several medical associations.
Mostly men
Most awards were given out to men. Of the more than 220 ribbons, just over 50 were pinned on a woman. The rest went to a man, so there are more than three times as many. An exception is Voerendaal, where the only two ribbons went to women. And in the municipalities of Kerkrade and Landgraaf, more women than men received a visit from their mayor on Tuesday.
In the municipalities of Beesel, Maasgouw, Mook en Middelaar, Roerdalen, Stein and Valkenburg aan de Geul, on the other hand, only men were pinned with an award.
Vaals is the only municipality in Limburg where no ribbons were awarded on Tuesday.
View the ribbons per municipality
Brook | Beekdaelen | Beesel | Mountains | Brunssum | Real-Susteren | Eijsden-Margraten | Gennep | Gulpen-Wittem | Heerlen | Horst aan de Maas | Kerkrade | Landgraaf | Leudal | Maasgouw | Maastricht | Meerssen | Mook and Mediator | Nederweert | Peel and Maas | Roerdalen | Roermond | Simple field | Sittard-Geleen | Stein | pale | Valkenburg aan de Geul | Venlo | Venray | Voerendaal | Weert