A Flurry of Royal Honors on Friday, April 24, 2026: Mayor Leendert de Lange Presented Six Royal Honors

Mayor Leendert de Lange: "For some people, dedicating years of their time to volunteering for others, their club, the church, or their village is simply part of everyday life. It is a privilege to make this Friday—King’s Day—truly special for six of our residents. To be able to honor fellow villagers who have devoted themselves heart and soul to our community as a whole. A royal recognition, a festive surprise, and appreciation from the nominator, supporters, and many others. It is an honor and a pleasure, because you are invaluable."

Ms. D. (Diana) Hanford

For more than 23 years, Mrs. Hanford has served the St. James church community in Voorschoten with great dedication. She performs a wide range of duties, including leading children’s lessons during worship services, providing practical support for activities and special occasions, Health pastoral Health the sick and vulnerable, and helping to integrate asylum seekers. In addition, she opens her home for gatherings and Bible studies. Her efforts are both practical and unifying and of great significance for the spiritual and social well-being of many. Ms. Hanford was appointed a Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau.

Mr. A.J. (Ton) Beijersbergen

For nearly 60 years, Mr. Beijersbergen has devoted himself with great dedication to education, volunteer work, and the preservation of historical and cultural heritage in Wassenaar. He worked for 35 years as a teacher and assistant principal at St. Bonifacius School, and even after his retirement, he continues to support students on a weekly basis. He also worked to preserve the historic building in which the school is located. In addition, he was involved as a leader in Scouting for 20 years. For nearly 40 years, Mr. Beijersbergen has been active as a lector, neighborhood contact person, and chair of the pastoral group at the St. Augustine Parish. As a board member and chair of the exhibition committee, he is responsible for curating exhibitions in the library and has published several historical works. Since the founding of the Stolpersteine working group, Mr. Beijersbergen has played a central role in researching Jewish residents of Wassenaar who perished during the Holocaust. He writes the moving stories that are published with each Stolpersteine installation. His work serves as a lasting monument to the victims. Mr. Beijersbergen was appointed a Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau.

Mr. L.C.M. (Leo) Kroon

Mr. Kroon has consistently put his professional expertise as an architect to work for the public good. He made significant and lasting contributions to education through the restoration of the historic Bonifacius School building and the large-scale renovation and expansion of the Adelbert College. 

He has also been actively involved in sports as a board member and advisor for several sports-related initiatives in Wassenaar. In this capacity, he contributed to the management of sports facilities, the improvement of infrastructure around sports complexes, and the feasibility study for the construction of a new central sports hall.

In addition, he serves on the board of Open Monument Day, plays a key role in fostering connections within community networks, and is committed to the future of the library. Mr. Kroon was appointed a Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau.

Mr. M. (Martin) Efdée

For many years, Mr. Efdée has been deeply committed to sports, community life, and club activities in Wassenaar. His wide-ranging volunteer work and reliable commitment make him an indispensable link within multiple organizations. He serves as a speaker for WZK competitive swimming, was involved with Leiden Athletics for twenty years, and was a co-founder of the Burgwey neighborhood association, where he played a central role in various neighborhood initiatives. In addition, he is a driving force within the Wassenaar Oranje Vereniging (WOV) as secretary, where he ensures proper record-keeping and administrative continuity. 

Thanks to his knowledge of administrative processes, he plays a key role in areas such as the permitting process. He is highly versatile in event management and demonstrates great flexibility in crisis situations. His long-standing commitment—both physical and social—alongside his family underscores his unifying role and deep dedication to Wassenaar. Mr. Efdée was appointed a member of the Order of Orange-Nassau.

Mr. J.L.M. (Jos) van Veen

Mr. Van Veen has been volunteering with the Blauw Zwart soccer club in Wassenaar since his youth. Over the years, he has held a variety of roles, including youth coach, youth camp leader, team captain, and organizer of numerous club activities. In addition, five years ago he introduced Walking Soccer at Blauw Zwart, which helps older adults stay active and fosters social interaction. He is also committed to the integration of asylum seekers by involving them in soccer training sessions, using sports as a means of connection and participation.

In addition, he and his wife organized the fundraising drive for the Dutch Kidney Foundation in Wassenaar for many years. He also plays an important role as a caregiver. Mr. Van Veen was appointed a Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau.

Ms. G.A. (Tiny) van der Feltz-Huisken

For many years, Ms. Van der Feltz-Huisken has been dedicated to improving the quality of life, vitality, and future-readiness of Wassenaar’s downtown area. She played a key role in revitalizing the shopping district, particularly during a period when brick-and-mortar stores were under pressure from online shopping and the arrival of the“Mall of the Netherlands.” Thanks to her vision for timely investments, the town center remained attractive and vibrant. After stepping down from her role as center manager, she continued to volunteer as secretary. In that role, she was a driving force behind the Village Plan Renewal project. As a board member and later as chair/director of the Wassenaar Retailers’ Association, she organized collaboration between retailers in the center of Wassenaar and property owners to keep the center attractive. In 2012, she co-founded the Center Management Foundation.

In addition, she serves on the board of De Stille Kracht, where she contributes to meetings and new initiatives and is responsible for internal and external communications. She is also a member of the committee that reviews requests for grants and donations. Ms. Van der Feltz was appointed a Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau.