These 15 Amstelveen residents received a ribbon today

By means of •
Amstelveenz •
Friday, April 26, 2024 at 1:08 PM

Amstelveen – Today, Friday April 26, Mayor Tjapko Poppens presented fifteen Amstelveen residents with a Royal Decoration during the traditional ribbon shower in the town hall.

Among the decorated are four Knights and eleven Members in the Order of Orange-Nassau. All these people have selflessly committed themselves to Amstelveen society as volunteers for a long time.

Mayor Tjapko Poppens always calls the local ribbon shower a special and festive event: ‘In Amstelveen we fortunately still have a large number of enthusiastic and skilled volunteers who dedicate their heart and soul to social institutions, associations and charities. I am proud of all Amstelveen volunteers. Today a number of them have been distinguished for their special merits. Congratulations.’

Appointed Knight in the Order of Orange-Nassau:

Hans Gort
Dedicated himself for many years as a board member of the Shopkeepers’ Association Rembrandtweg, Binnenhof and Buitenplein. Was co-initiator and quartermaster of the Park Management Business Park Westwijk association. Chairman of the trade organization Koninklijke Horeca Nederland, Amstelland department. Treasurer and chairman of Koninklijke Horeca Nederland, North Holland region, Volunteer at Koninklijke Horeca Nederland and pension fund Horeca & Catering. Also a member of the franchise council of FEBO Beheer BV, advisory committee of the Municipality of Amstelveen Incentive Fund and volunteer at the Amstelveen Entrepreneurs Association.

Hans Gort with councilors Elzakalai and Raat.

Ritika Mehra
Founder and chairman of the Bridging the Gap foundation, which is committed to the integration of Indian expats in the Netherlands and the mutual relations between Indians and Dutch people. Also a volunteer at the Asha foundation in Utrecht, which focuses on the integration and participation of Indians in the Utrecht community.

Ritika Mehra with councilors Adam Elzakalai and Herbert Raat, mayor Tjapko Poppens and councilors Jet Smit and Bas Zwart

Leonard Sanders
Active for over 36 years in various Jewish organizations: member of the Supervisory Board of the Dutch Israelite main synagogue, member of the participation council of Roj Pina primary school, board positions at the Jewish municipality of Haarlem, Joles/M and R. van Esso-de Vries foundation, Shooting Sports Association Maccabi and of the CIZ synagogue committee at the Amstelland Hospital.

Gideon Simon
Active board member of the Nieuw Israëlitisch Weekblad foundation, member of the Central Committee of the Dutch Israelite Church, member of the Board of Supervisory Examinations, Church council member of the Dutch Israelite main synagogue Amsterdam. Initiator of projects ‘Not from Yesterday’ and ‘Project Second World War in perspective’. Member of the recommendation committee of the Holocaust Education Project and the ‘Remkes’ advisory committee.

Appointed Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau:

Ton de Bruijn
Have been a volunteer at hockey club HIC for many years, including for the maintenance of the fields and grounds management. Also advisor for grounds maintenance and field management of football club RKAVIC. He is also a volunteer at the Zonnehuis.

Chris van den Helder
Active volunteer at Startbaan athletics club for more than 18 years. He is also a board member of the Bovenkerk Foundation and organizer of various events. Also a volunteer at the Friends of Bovenkerkse Urbanus foundation. Involved in fundraising activities for the reconstruction of Urbanuskerk.

Rien Hogerwerf
Active for many years as chairman of the youth committee and organizer of many activities of the Bovenkerk foundation. Also volunteer and board member of tennis club LTC Amstelland. Played a role in the merger with tennis club De Meerlanden. Coordinator of various tennis championships and tournaments.

Dea Koot
Has been a volunteer at De Schakel, a leisure club for people with intellectual disabilities, for over 40 years. Is a permanent member of staff at many activities and has been coordinator of the annual switching holiday for 20 years.

Harry Koot
Received this award for his many years of dedication as a board member of leisure association De Schakel. As an all-round volunteer, he supports many activities and is co-organizer of the cycling holidays. Produced the film ‘The Great Kidnap’ and provides training in the use of mobile phones and social media to participants of the Schakel.

Karin Koot
Has been a volunteer at the leisure club De Schakel for over 40 years. Draws up the annual program for the club and, as program coordinator, is the link between volunteers and the activities. Also a permanent employee for special activities. Regularly provides information at theme evenings for volunteers.

Tom Koot
Resident of the municipality of Aalsmeer and receives the award for his many years of dedication to the leisure club De Schakel in Amstelveen. Has been fulfilling various roles and functions for 40 years. Was coordinator of the Transitional Holiday and is still a regular volunteer for special activities. Coordinator of the Instuif for more than 25 years.

Will Lohse-Rietveld
Founder and volunteer of the knitting club at the nursing home ‘t Huis aan de Poel. Also active at the Social Meeting Center, and provides various assistance during activities in the community center. Also hostess at Daycare Groenelaan. Is co-organizer of various activities.

Eric Leignes Bakhoven
From 1974 onwards she was a volunteer and successively secretary, vice-chairman and treasurer of Scouting Kantankye Amstelveen. Acts as group leader and organizes the weekly and weekend camps. Is a board member of the Stedelijk Jongerennetwerk Amstelveen/Amstelidee foundation and a volunteer at Scoutcentrum Buitenzorg.

Dorien Martron
Client counselor at VluchtelingenWerk Nederland. Supports refugees and asylum seekers from the moment they arrive in the Netherlands until they can find their way independently. Specialist and point of contact in the field of UWV and tax authorities. Also a volunteer at Jeu de Boules association Bulderbaan.

Herman de Ruiter
Active volunteer at Amstelveen Heemraad football club since 1987. Was a youth leader, member of the football committee and host in the boardroom. Is a permanent member of the work team for the maintenance of the site and the complex.