Twelve ribbons in the municipality of Nuenen

This year, more than 3,600 people in the Netherlands will receive a Royal Honor. The municipality of Nuenen also has reason to celebrate, as His Majesty the King has chosen to recognize twelve of its residents with this honor. Namely:

Ms. H.C.M. (Riekie) Polman-Groenen (76) | Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau
Mr. P.J.A. (Peter) Raaijmakers (67) | Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau
Mr. J.F.G. (Jan) Merks (77) | Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau
Mr. R.M.G. (René) Jansen (76) | Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau
Mr. A.C.E. (Dré) Bemelmans (71) | Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau
Mr. M.J.M. (Maarten) Klomp (70) | Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau
Ms. N.K. (Nicoline) Kuperus-Rijkée (82) | Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau
Ms. B.E.M. (Brigit) Span (51) | Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau
Ms. M.H.P.W. (Ria) Hoefnagels-Martens (76) | Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau
Ms. A.J.M. (Anneke) Brenninkmeyer-Govaarts (77) | Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau
Mr. B. (Bram) Soetendal (76) | Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau
Mr. B.A.G. (Ben) Wilde (84) | Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau

On Friday, April 24, between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., Mayor Freek van Genugten presented 10 honors, and announced twice that another ceremony would take place after his return from vacation.

Ms. H.C.M. (Riekie) Polman-Groenen

Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau
, age 76

Riekie Polman is an indispensable volunteer from Gerwen. She plays a vital role as hostess and key holder for the drop-in center run by the Leefbaar Gerwen Working Group. At the Heilig Kruisgilde Gerwen, she works behind the bar and serves as caretaker and cleaner. With the Jong Leven Gerwen drum and fife band, she supervised the majorette group, managed the uniforms, and served as hostess. For many years, she was a volunteer and board member at the De Narre-Kappen carnival association. She is currently on vacation and will receive her decorations at a later date.

Mr. P.J.A. (Peter) Raaijmakers 

Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau
, age 67

Peter Raaijmakers is a dedicated volunteer from Nederwetten. He serves on the board of the St. Annagilde Nederwetten and is actively involved in maintaining the grounds and guild house, as well as handling purchases. He organizes the shooting competition and group outings. For many years, he served as a board member and volunteer at the R.K.V.V. Nederwetten soccer club, where he was active as a team manager, linesman, referee, and canteen manager. He was a co-founder, chairman, and volunteer at the Wette’s Dorpsfestijn Foundation. Until his retirement, he worked at Albron Catering.

Mr. J.F.G. (Jan) Merks

Member in the Order of Orange-Nassau
Age: 77 years 

Jan Merks has made significant contributions in areas such as senior welfare, tennis, and youth welfare. He volunteers at Zorggroep Grootenhout in Aarle-Rixtel. He served as treasurer for the Dorpswerkplaats Nuenen hobby center for many years. Prior to that, he was treasurer for the De Lissevoort Tennis and Padel Club and for Scouting Panta Rhei Nuenen. Until his retirement in 2010, he was a treasury controller at De Lage Landen.

Mr. R.M.G. (René) Jansen

Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau
, age 76

René Jansen has made significant contributions in the areas of social welfare and social cohesion, among others. Until recently, he served as chairman of the Stichting Dorpswerkplaats Nuenen and was the driving force behind its expansion and renovation. From 1985 to 2005, he was chairman of the Culturele Accommodatie Scarabee in Nuenen Zuid. To this day, he serves as chairman of the Scarabee Fund, a grant-making organization. He is a volunteer and club president of the Lions Club Eindhoven Host. Until his retirement in 2015, he was director of Summa College in Eindhoven. He is currently on vacation and will receive his award later.

Mr. A.C.E. (Dré) Bemelmans

Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau
, age 71

Dré Bemelmans has distinguished himself in the fields of marksmanship and motorsports. From 2000 to 2010, he served as president of the MotorTourClub (MTC) Nuenen. Until recently, he served as captain for 21 years, and prior to that, he had been secretary of the Sint Antoniusschut Eeneind-Opwetten since 1977. For many years, he served as coordinator of the five guilds in Nuenen. He also served as a district councilor and, until recently, as vice-chairman of the Northern District of the Association of Shooting Guilds of the Kempenland Region. To this day, he remains vice-chairman of the North Brabant Federation of Shooting Guilds. Until his retirement in 2022, he served as press officer for the municipality of Helmond.

Mr. M.J.M. (Maarten) Klomp

Member in the Order of Orange-Nassau
Age: 70 years

Maarten Klomp has made significant contributions in the fields of astronomy, social cohesion, and cycling. He has served as president of the Tourclub Nuenen for many years, having previously served as its treasurer. In 2010, he co-founded the Mountain Bike Promotion Nuenen Foundation and has been actively involved with the Gulbergen24.  For 16 years, he has served as chairman of the Dr. A.F. Philips Observatory Foundation and the Eindhoven Weather and Astronomy Society. He volunteered with the LEV Group Nuenen. He is the vegetable garden coordinator at the Weverkeshof Village Farm and serves as treasurer of the Oranje Committee Nuenen. Until his retirement in 2009, he worked as an inspector at Nationale Nederlanden.

Ms. N.K. (Nicoline) Kuperus-Rijkée

Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau
, age 82

Nicoline Kuperus has established a track record in the fields of social welfare and business advocacy. She serves as treasurer of the Rotary Club of Nuenen and volunteers with the Probus Van Gogh association in Nuenen. Until recently, she was treasurer and, prior to that, secretary of the PVGE senior citizens’ association in the Eindhoven region. In the past, she volunteered with Ondernemerscontact Nuenen and helped a local entrepreneur avoid bankruptcy. She previously served as treasurer for De Lindespelers and for two preschool programs. She served as secretary at two Nuts elementary schools, De Wettenaar and Den Bussel. Until her retirement in 2010, she was a co-owner of Kuperus en Partners. 

Ms. B.E.M. (Brigit) Span

Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau
, Age: 51

Brigit Span has made significant contributions in the areas of social cohesion, carnival, and elementary education. As a volunteer with CV De Dwèrsklippels, she organized Doldwèrs and Babes Bingo. She served as a board member and chair of the parent-teacher association at De Dassenburcht Elementary School. She was a volunteer with the De Lissevoort Tennis and Padel Club. She was the driving force behind the skating rink in the Park and, until recently, chair of the Dwèrs op het ijs foundation. She is the undisputed driving force behind neighborhood activities. She works as a corporate storyteller in the communications department at Eindhoven University of Technology. After the COVID-19 pandemic, she organized team-building activities for colleagues.

Ms. M.H.P.W. (Ria) Hoefnagels-Martens

Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau
, age 76

Ria Hoefnagels has made significant contributions in areas such as senior welfare, tennis, and carnival. Since 2009, she has been a volunteer with the National Association De Zonnebloem, Nuenen branch. She coordinates courses and Zonnebloem vacations. She served as a regional representative and was a board member for visiting services for over 15 years. Since 2018, she has been chair of the senior citizens’ working group at CV De Dwèrsklippels. Since 2023, she has been a board member of the Jo van Dijkhof Living Room Project. Between 2000 and 2010, she volunteered at the De Lissevoort Tennis and Padel Club. Until her retirement in 2009, she worked as a freelance editor for magazines and provided entertainment at events.

Ms. A.J.M. (Anneke) Brenninkmeyer-Govaarts

Member in the Order of Orange-Nassau
Age: 77 years

Anneke Brenninkmeyer has made significant contributions in the field of Health welfare. She has been a volunteer with the Plusminus Foundation since 2009. She plans activities, stays in touch with participants, and often serves as a driver. Since 2013, she has been a volunteer at the Bijna Thuis Huis Madelief, a hospice in Son en Breugel. She serves as a hostess for residents and their loved ones. She assists with admissions and discharges. Through the church, she delivers Christmas gift baskets. Until her retirement in 2016, she worked as a nurse.

Mr. B. (Bram) Soetendal

Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau
, age 76

Bram Soetendal has made significant contributions to the fields of korfball, the performing arts, and community advocacy. He has been a volunteer since 2001 and served as secretary of the theater group De Lindespelers since 2015. He is a member of the entertainment committee and serves as production manager for plays. Since 2005, he has been a volunteer at the NKV Nuenen korfball club and, prior to that, at Rust Roest in Eindhoven. He has been a referee for 25 years and maintains fields and facilities. Since 2020, he has served as secretary of the Het Klooster Association and is committed to the realization of the community center. He oversees Health the temporary accommodation Klooster Temporalis. In the neighborhood, he served for some time as chairman of the Molvense Erven Interest Group. Until his retirement in 2013, he was a team leader at the North Brabant Youth Care Foundation.

Mr. B.A.G. (Ben) Wilde

Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau
, age 84

Ben Wilde has made significant contributions in the fields of photography, social cohesion, and well-being. From 1965 until his retirement in 2005, he worked as a photographer and owner of a photo shop and Studio BM in Nuenen. As the official photographer for the municipality of Nuenen, he was present at the most memorable moments—such as the annual awards ceremony—for nearly 60 years. His own work has resulted in several exhibitions, such as “Tachtiger van NU(enen),” and he has also produced commissioned exhibitions and book publications. He volunteers with the Heritage Association and has built an extensive photo archive. To this day, he serves as a course leader and photography instructor in Nuenen. He has photographed special events such as “Dorp in het dorp” and Nuenen’s 700th anniversary. He was the initiator of the “Van Gogh Braderie,” now known as De Van Goghmert. He volunteers with the Andriesplein Neighborhood Association (BOA). He served as a caregiver for a seriously ill acquaintance.