Traditionally, ribbons are awarded every year on the day before King’s Day to people who have done something special for society. 22 residents of Almere will receive a royal honor today.
1. Ruud Rouvoet, Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau
Until 2021, Ruud Rouvoet worked as a team leader and teacher at the engineering course at MBO Utrecht. Since 2014, he has also been guiding a status holder from Iran with his integration.
2. Ingrid van der Voort, Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau
Ingrid van der Voort has been working as a complementary care consultant at the Flevoziekenhuis in Almere since 2010. After her own breast cancer diagnosis in 2011, she invented the Embrace Cloth, a soft shawl for breast cancer patients. The Flevo Hospital was the first to provide this, and more hospitals are now following. She has also been a volunteer at Humanitas Family and Loss since 2015.
3. Charles van der Horst, Knight in the Order of Orange-Nassau
Until his retirement he worked as director of the Jenaplanschool Montini in Baarn. He also did volunteer activities at the Almere Skating Association and has been chairman of the Super Cool Foundation since 2018! Skating for people with disabilities.
4. Ineke van der Laan-van der Meer, Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau
She has been a volunteer and salvation soldier with the Salvation Army Corps Almere since 2004. She has been supporting Social Services for more than 25 years, helping the senior club, visiting members in difficult times, hosting the Community Center and co-initiating a discussion group for deepening faith.
5. René ter Borgh, Knight in the Order of Orange-Nassau
René ter Borgh has been director of the family business Ruitenheer in Almere since 1983. He has initiated numerous social projects in close collaboration with Almere City FC. He has worked selflessly for the less fortunate in Almere for many years.
6. Maria Muelink-Wetterhahn, Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau
Previously worked as a teaching assistant at the Public School Community ‘De Meergronden’ (part of the ASG Foundation) and retired since 2015. She is currently involved in a lot of volunteer work, such as the Opkikker Foundation and the Kindervakantieland Almere Foundation.
7. Marcel Mannens, Knight in the Order of the Netherlands Lion
Clinical geneticist at the Amsterdam University Medical Center and professor of genome diagnostics at the University of Amsterdam. He discovered various genetic abnormalities that cause certain diseases and conducted groundbreaking research, discovering a new form of gene inheritance.
8. Anneke de Wijs-Vink, Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau
Until her retirement in 2013, she worked as a medical secretary at a dermatology practice in Amsterdam. She has been a volunteer at the Church Foundation Sint Gregorius Haarlem-Amsterdam and currently works at PKN Almere Buiten as a hostess.
9. Wim Faber, Member in the Order of Orange-Nassau
Until his retirement in 2013, he worked for the municipality of Almere (including as alderman in the period 2001-2004 and in 2007). He has also done a lot of volunteer work over the years.
10. Stephanie Chrispijn-Heeffer, Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau
She works as an educational employee at Aeres MBO. Volunteer at the Melania Development Cooperation Foundation, organizer and administrator. She is a resident council supervisor at the Woonmere Foundation and the Paladijn Foundation.
11. Reinier Rossen, Knight in the Order of Orange-Nassau
Reinier Rossen is a volunteer, youth counselor and youth coach of the AVV Swift football club in Amsterdam. He was also a member of the Flevoziekenhuis client council and a member of the Zilveren Kruis. To date, he is chairman of HBVA, the Alliance and 3HO.
12. Judith Smeekes-Wijnen, Member in the Order of Orange-Nassau
She worked at Koninklijke Visio in Huizen. Its mission was to increase the emancipation of blind and visually impaired young people. She initiated the national Expedition Robin project, where she worked on improving the connection from school to work for this target group.
13. Pedro Montero Ramirez, Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau
Treasurer of the Casa Migrante Foundation in Amsterdam, an aid organization for Spanish-speaking migrants. The person concerned is responsible for the annual and multi-year budget. He also helps with those who need help, such as providing meals, renovating, etc.
14. Anke van ‘t Land-Mafait, Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau
Works as an accountant at the Van Houten cheese and delicatessen shop and retired since 2005. She was an informal caregiver, a volunteer at the De Toonladder elderly center and a member of the Citizens’ Forum investigating changes to the electoral system.
15. Kees Tadema, Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau
Kees Tadema works as a detective at the FIOD. He was the initiator of the crisis ministry and counseling programs after the Bijlmer disaster. To date, he has held various positions, including treasurer at Levend Water Kerk Almere.
16. Monique Dekker, Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau
To date, she is a volunteer at the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers, the asylum seeker center in Almere. She also teaches Dutch to residents who do not yet have a residence permit.
17. Theo Willemstein, Knight in the Order of Orange-Nassau
In the past he worked for the Royal Military Police and has worked for the police since about 1988. He served in the Mobile Unit for eighteen years, including six years as group leader, and was injured several times during this period. He was responsible for the closure of hundreds of criminal premises in Amsterdam and solved all kinds of murder cases.
18. Marijke Brugmans, Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau
She was a board member of the Tubantia Music Association in Amsterdam. Until now, she is a volunteer at the Music Association BuBo in Amsterdam and co-founder of the Music Management Foundation in Almere.
19. Fred Kuiters, Member in the Order of Orange-Nassau
Chairman of the De Treffers shooting club in Amsterdam (70 members). The person concerned maintains contacts with the municipality, the landlord of the location, the police and suppliers. He guides new members and promotes the association. Even during his illnesses, he remained committed to the members and the survival of the association.
20. Madsy Mossel-Breeveld, Knight in the Order of Orange-Nassau
Previously working as a psychiatric nurse and retired since 2002. To date, a volunteer in the Moravian Church of Amsterdam and Flevoland, Volunteer Department of Migrant Psychiatric Nurses. She is also Chairman of We Are There Also.
21. Pierre den Os, Knight in the Order of Orange-Nassau (presentation in Leusden)
Until his retirement she worked for the Netherlands Police as Commissioner and Deputy District Chief. He volunteered to commemorate victims of the Second World War at the National Monument Camp Amersfoort.
22. Arnoud van Oord, member of the Order of Orange-Nassau (presentation in Utrechtse Heuvelrug)
He has been volunteering for over 60 years for social purposes such as Scouting in Doorn and Almere, the Orange Association in Doorn and as a traffic controller and supporter at the annual Castle Tour with classic carriages in Doorn.
Photo: Maarten Feenstra photography
