Order of the House of Orange


The Order of the House of Orange, sometimes referred to as the House Order of Orange, is a dynastic order of the House of Orange-Nassau, the royal family of the Netherlands similar to the Royal Victorian Order in the United Kingdom. The order was instituted by Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands on 19 March 1905 and is not subject to ministerial responsibility or influence, but is awarded at the discretion of the Dutch monarch alone.

History

1905–1969

In 1905, Queen Wilhelmina felt the need for a House Order because the Order of the Oak Crown of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, used by her father and grandfather to reward Dutch subjects, was no longer available to her, as succession to the throne of Luxembourg was directed by the House treaty of the House of Nassau in a way comparable to the Salic Law within its constitution in 1890.
The Order of the House of Orange had a very complex nomenclature, with 18 different classes and medals:
  1. Grand Cross
  2. Grand Officer
  3. Commander
  4. Officer
  5. Knight
  6. Knight 2nd. Class
  7. The Golden Medal for Art and Science
  8. The Golden Medal for Initiative and Ingenuity
  9. The Silver Medal for Art and Science
  10. The Silver Medal for Initiative and Ingenuity
  11. Dame of Honour
  12. Golden Cross of Merit
  13. Silver Cross of Merit
  14. Golden Medal of Honour
  15. Silver Medal of Honour
  16. Bronze Medal of Honour
  17. Medal for saving lives from deadly peril
  18. The Bronze Medal for Art and Science.
The number does not indicate a rank within the Order. The Dame of Honour was neither inferior nor superior to another grade; however the highest rank was the Grand Cross. The insignia vary considerably amongst these awards; however, they all share the same orange ribbon, symbolizing the House of Orange.
More than 3200 decorations were conferred between 1905 and 1969, mostly to Court Dignitaries, the Queen's household, and doctors and lawyers who could choose between sending a bill for their services or a decoration in the House Order.

Reorganisation of the order in 1969

By court decree on 30 November 1969, Queen Juliana decided to reorganise the Order to bring it more in line with the ever more egalitarian spirit of the Dutch society. As a result, the order is now divided into four semi-independent groups:
  1. The House Order
  2. The Order for Loyalty and Merit
  3. Honorary medals
  4. #The Honorary medal for Arts and Science
  5. #The Honorary medal for Initiative and Ingenuity
  6. The Order of the Crown

    The House Order today

According to the statutes of the House Order, this Order is awarded to Dutch people "who have rendered special service to the Dutch King or his House". Nowadays the House Order has four grades:
  1. Grand Cross - large enameled cross in gold being worn on a sash on the right shoulder + an 8-pointed star on the left chest;
  2. Grand Honorary Cross - large enameled cross in gold worn on a necklet;
  3. Honorary Cross - smaller enameled cross in gold worn on a ribbon on the left chest.
  4. Knight's Cross - smaller cross in silver worn on a ribbon on the left chest.
The decorations are the same as those of the previous Grand Crosses, Commanders, Knights 1st Class, and Knights 2nd Class of the House Order of Orange, as it existed until 1969.
The Honorary Cross is the highest grade in which Dutch people can be directly admitted to the order, with the exception of members of the Royal Family who can be admitted into the order with a higher rank. However, someone can be promoted to a higher rank for ongoing 'special merits' after already being awarded with this order; this also requires a decree from the King. Promotion within the order is gradual, whereby at least three years must have elapsed after the initial admission to the order. In 2023, a fourth grade of the House Order of Orange was introduced, named the 'Knight's Cross'. This award is normally intended for persons outside the court staff, but can also be awarded to persons within the Court. This new grade is the next in rank to the 'Honorary Cross'.
''Note: The Royal House is a rather complex definition within Dutch constitutional theory and Dutch law. It consists of the Monarch, his or her consort, former monarchs and their consorts and those members of his family that have a right to succeed him up to the second degree and their consorts. The Government is responsible for the actions and words of the monarch and in a lesser respect the members of the Royal House. The House is not the same as the Royal Family. The Queen's second son decided not to ask for parliamentary approval for his marriage and lost his right to succeed to the throne, his membership of the Royal House and the title Prince of the Netherlands. He did however retain the style and title of Royal Highness, a Prince of Orange-Nassau and a member of the Royal Family.''