Nominating someone for a royal honour

If you want to nominate someone for a royal honour, you can either choose to do it offline or - for nominees living in The Netherlands - online.

Offline

You may download an empty nomination form and complete it offline. You can also print the form and complete it on paper. Before completing the nomination form, please contact:

  • (for nominees living in The Netherlands) the municipality
  • (for nominees of the Carribean part of the Kingdom) either the office of the clerk to the island executive or the Decorations Committee of the island in question
  • (for nominees living outside the Kingdom of the Netherlands) the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Online

If you want to nominate someone for an honour online, the first step is to complete a short application form (in Dutch and only available for nominees living in The Netherlands). The form will be submitted for consideration to the municipality where the person you wish to nominate lives. A municipal officer assesses the application and determines whether there is sufficient reason to nominate them. The municipal officer may contact you before they make the decision. If the decision is positive, they will send you a link to the full online application form. 

Please remember the following when applying for a royal decoration

  • A royal decoration should be a surprise.
  • Try to find out whether the person you wish to nominate would appreciate a royal decoration.
  • The award process can take a long time.
  • Support your nomination with documents from other supporters, preferably signed letters, printed, if relevant on the organisation’s headed paper. Other documents can also be submitted.
  • If the person you wish to nominate is seriously ill, you can ask the municipality to fast-track the nomination.
  • In the interests of protecting the nominee’s privacy, you will not be informed of the reasons for granting or refusing the honour

What happens next?

Once you’ve submitted the nomination form, an extensive advisory and decision-making procedure begins.