13 Royal honors in Voorne aan Zee

Knight of the Order of Orange-Nassau

Mr. H. (Hans) Hoffmann - Oostvoorne 

For more than twenty-four years, Mr. Hoffmann has devoted himself selflessly to the preservation and accessibility of maritime heritage in the Netherlands. In 2001, he took the initiative to save the historic sea tug Elbe—once the flagship of Hollands Glorie—from being scrapped. Since then, he has served as chairman of the Rijnmond Maritime Collection Foundation. He also played a key role in preserving the historic tugboats Maassluis, Steenbank, and Varnebank, and was closely involved with the SS Rotterdam for 25 years. Thanks to his dedication, tangible pieces of maritime history are being preserved for future generations.
 

Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau

Mr. J. (Hans) van den Bor - Oostvoorne

For over forty years, Mr. Van den Bor has been an indispensable treasurer for a wide range of associations and foundations in the region. From 2006 to 2012, as treasurer of the OVV soccer club in Oostvoorne, he got the club’s finances back on track; since 2014, he has served as treasurer of the Sister Visser Fund Foundation; and since 2017, he has been treasurer of the Nissewaard Windmill Preservation Foundation, where he played a key role in ensuring the long-term, sustainable operation of two windmills. 
 

Mr. B. (Barend) van Horssen - Hellevoetsluis

For more than 35 years, Mr. Van Horssen has been passionately dedicated to the Hellevoetsluis community. From 1980 to 2000, he held various board positions at the Hellevoetsluis Water Sports Association, and from 1997 to 2023, he served as a board member and treasurer of the Kemioren Kemira advocacy group. Since 2013, he has been an enthusiastic tour guide at the De Buffel Museum Ship and the Jan Blanken Dry Dock, and since 2019, he has been the driving force behind Opruimers Hellevoet. 
 

Ms. T.H.M. (Thea) van der Molen-Pols - Brielle

Ms. Van der Molen has been volunteering with the Dutch Autism Association (NVA) for over 35 years, including as coordinator of parent liaisons in South Holland and as a staff member at the Autism Information Center in Rotterdam. In addition, she led running training sessions at Voorne Athletics for nearly thirty years and has been a volunteer with the Roman Catholic Parish of Brielle for about 20 years. 
 

Mr. T. (Teun) Lageweg - Hellevoetsluis

For 45 years, Mr. Lageweg has served as a living archive and a source of advice for anyone interested in the history of Hellevoetsluis. Since 2005, he has volunteered at the Visitor Center of Museum Fortresse Holland, and he has written anniversary books for the United Services Tennis Club and the Hellevoetsluis Soccer Club. In 2022, he received the Jan Blankenspeld from the former municipality of Hellevoetsluis for his contribution to local heritage. 
 

Mr. P.N. (Patrick) Leerschoon - Rockanje 

For nearly forty years, Mr. Leerschoon has been an indispensable volunteer at the Rockanje Camping Association, where he has served as president since 2007 and acts as the link between campers, the campground owner, and the municipality. In addition, since 2014, he has been organizing themed evenings and outings for vulnerable residents at Humanitas in Hoogvliet, along with others, and he provides practical assistance with moving and odd jobs. 
 

Mrs. G.C.M. (Truus) van der Veld-Matthijsse - Rockanje

Since the early 1980s, Ms. Van der Veld has been a familiar and indispensable presence within the Reformed Church of Rockanje. Among other things, she led the Sunday school, served as a member of the Board of Deacons, and has contributed to the flea market and the Snuffelloods for over forty years. Since 1992, she has been responsible for the organization and distribution of the church newsletter, and since 2002, she has served as a board member of the Restoration Fund Foundation. In addition, she was active for many years with the Red Cross boat trips and volunteers at De Zonnebloem Westvoorne.
 

Mr. G.A.M. (Gerard) Rila - Hellevoetsluis

Mr. Rila has been a coach and indispensable volunteer at Voorne Athletics since 2000, where he also served as a board member for eight years and currently acts as a confidential advisor, competition official, and delegate to the regional council. Under his leadership, initiatives such as the mentoring program for youth coaches, a training program for children ages 4 to 6, and an annual regional cross-country race were established. The club named him an Honorary Member. In addition, from 2014 to 2023, he served as a counselor and board member at the Intercultural Children’s Vacation Weeks Foundation. 
 

Mr. A. (Arie) Snoeij - Rockanje 

Mr. Snoeij has been a volunteer at Rockanje Football Club for nearly 55 years, where he has served successively as team manager, coach, referee, chairman of the Sunday division, board member of the management committee, and head of the maintenance crew. Since 1980, he has been writing match reports for the local newspaper and the club magazine; nowadays, he provides live radio commentary and serves as the announcer at home games. Since 2015, he has also been coordinating the construction committee for the renovation. 
 

Ms. F. (Nanny) Smit - Brielle 

For 55 years, Ms. Smit has selflessly dedicated herself to helping others. Since 1970, she has organized fundraising events for the Libertatis Primitiae brass band and music association in Brielle, where she was named an honorary member in 2001. In addition, for decades she accompanied residents of Careyn De Plantage on outings, evening events, and vacations, and since 2006 she has served as a hostess at St. Catharine’s Church in Brielle. Ms. Smit was also a member of the Christian Wind Ensemble Prinses Juliana in Klaaswaal, 45 kilometers from her home, from 1982 through 1996. She contributed to fundraising efforts and held board positions.
 

Mr. J. (Johan) Stam - Brielle

For over thirty years, Mr. Stam has devoted himself wholeheartedly to Brielle’s heritage. Since 1995, he has volunteered with De Geuzennaald, the working group of the April 1st Association that creates the historical costumes for the April 1st festival. From 1999 to 2013, he served on the association’s board; in 2010, he was named Citizen of the Year, and in 2024, Honorary Citizen. Since 2013, he has also been actively involved on a weekly basis with the Cannons and Carriages working group. 
 

Mr. H. (Bert) Heijndijk - Oostvoorne

Mr. Heijndijk has been active in local politics for over twenty years, including 16.5 years as a council member in the municipalities of Westvoorne and Voorne aan Zee. Prior to that, he served on various committees. He is known for his deep commitment to everything happening in Oostvoorne: whenever issues arose, he would invariably attend residents’ meetings to gauge public opinion firsthand. As a committee member, he will continue to dedicate himself to Voorne aan Zee in the coming period.