Medal of Honor for Humanitarian Assistance Awarded to Leo IJdo for Heroic Rescue from a Burning House
On Wednesday, October 7, 2026, Mr. Leo IJdo received the Medal of Honor for Humanitarian Assistance. He was presented with this special award by Mayor Scheepers in recognition of his courageous actions on the night of October 16–17, 2025. That night, he rescued his neighbor from her burning home in Brielle.
When the fire spread rapidly through the house that night, the resident was unable to get downstairs because of the smoke and flames. Mr. IJdo immediately alerted emergency services and managed to rescue his neighbor from the house through the skylight. Thanks to his decisive action, she was unharmed. The house was completely destroyed by the fire.
Appreciation for courage, leadership, and self-sacrifice
For his rescue effort, Mr. IJdo has been nominated for the Medal of Honor for Humanitarian Assistance. The award is given to individuals who have performed a humanitarian act demonstrating courage, judgment, and self-sacrifice. In Mr. IJdo’s case, these criteria have been met, and the King has decided to award him the Medal of Honor for Humanitarian Assistance in bronze.
Oldest Civilian Medal for Bravery
The Medal of Honor for Humanitarian Assistance is the most prestigious Dutch award for acts of bravery performed outside of combat. The award is presented to “those who have performed a humanitarian act that demonstrates courage, prudence, and self-sacrifice.”
The Medal of Honor is, after the Military Order of William, the oldest surviving Dutch award for bravery and is awarded only a few times a year. It is therefore especially remarkable that this award has been presented in our municipality two years in a row. Last year, Lucas Molendijk received the same award for rescuing his younger brother and sister from their burning farmhouse.