This afternoon there will be a rain of ribbons: dozens of Drenthe residents will receive a royal award from one of the twelve mayors. The ribbon shower traditionally takes place on the last working day before the birthday of the grand master of the Dutch knighthoods: the king.
A year ago, 81 people from Drenthe received a royal award, one of them was professor doctor Harry van de Wiel from de Wijk. Van de Wiel received his award for his work at the University Medical Center Groningen.
The award came as a total surprise to Van de Wiel: “We were going to take a family photo, so I dressed nicely,” he reflects. The trick of being decorated by the mayor as Knight in the Order of Orange-Nassau was a special moment for Van de Wiel.
Van de Wiel has not worn the ribbon since the ribbon shower. “The ribbon is neatly in the cupboard here, today I am wearing it again for the first time to the ribbon ceremony.”
A year later, the professor doctor is still modest. “Nothing changes in your life, perhaps many people who receive a ribbon are of retirement age. It remains an extremely nice recognition, but I have to put it into perspective that it is the group that does it.”
The modesty is also noticeable among other decorated people, Aly Huizingh from Roswinkel received a ribbon for her fifty-year membership as a musician of Amoroso: “Last year was a special moment, but other than that nothing has changed for me. I wear the ribbon during performances of the music association.”
Sabina Mensinga from Peize received a ribbon for her efforts at Tafeltje Dekje and the historical association of the village. Mensinga catches herself with her modesty: “I didn’t think it was necessary at all, but I think that’s what everyone who has been decorated says.”
