The Frisian Piet de Haan refused a royal ribbon on Friday. He was about to receive the ribbon when he interrupted Mayor Johannes Kramer’s speech. “I think we have a problem.”
De Haan from Dokkum had come to the town hall of Northeast Friesland under the assumption that a friend of his would receive a ribbon. He did not know that he could also receive a ribbon himself.
When it was his turn unexpectedly, he interrupted the mayor’s speech. “This does not feel like an honor to me, but like a stab in the back,” he said. “I have nothing to do with the royal family and actually find it very disturbing.” He did not want to accept the ribbon.
Man of principles
According to the Frisian channel RTV NOF, some people in the room reacted somewhat indignantly, but his family was not surprised. “This is exactly how our father is. He is a man of principles and that is okay,” his daughter told RTV NOF.
De Haan would receive a ribbon for the volunteer work he did for years for the Historical Association of North-East Friesland. The mayor respected De Haan’s wish not to accept the ribbon and expressed his gratitude for the volunteer work that Piet has done.
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