Ribbon ceremony Friday, April 25, 2025: Wassenaar six more decorated people

On Friday, April 25, the day before King's Day, ribbons are awarded across the country. At Council House De Paauw, Mayor Leendert de Lange received six residents who received a royal decoration for their many voluntary services to society. 

Mr. H. (Hans) Kortman and Mrs. H. (Hilde) Kortman-Jürgens

Together with her husband, Mrs. Kortman-Jürgens has been a volunteer with the association Kattenzorg Den Haag for more than 20 years. Together they take care of the cats in Wassenaar whose owners are on vacation and then immediately take care of the plants, the mail and do housework. Ms. also coordinates requests for a vacation babysitter from the 120 members living in Wassenaar. In 2000, Ms. Kortman founded the Woedi Foundation (Wassenaar Elders and Animals). This foundation aims to help elderly people keep their pets for as long as possible by helping them with walking and care and/or placing a suitable pet. The Woedi Foundation advises care centers in the area on how to run "pet" programs, which bring the elderly out of isolation. A very successful project is the "petting project," through which Mrs. Kortman visits the elderly with pets. She received an award for this from the Animal Protection Society. Mrs. Kortman also volunteers as an informal Health volunteer at Duinstede.

Mr. Kortman received the 'Dompeling Bokaal' in 1988 for his commitment to the WKZ Omni (Swimming Association) Wassenaar. As a sport diver, he gave swimming lessons to children. Because of his passion for diving and love for animals and nature, he participates in making "nature documentaries. He is treasurer of the board 'Green City Behind the Dunes'. A project to make a nature documentary about The Hague/Haaglanden. Besides his commitment to the Foundation Cat Care The Hague, Mr. Kortman has also been a volunteer at a dog boarding house in Rijnsaterwoude for many years. And since 2020 involved in "Team Arie," an organization in Voorschoten that helps locate missing dogs and domestic cats. In short, a couple with a heart for animals and nature.

Mr. and Mrs. Kortman-Jürgens are both appointed Members of the Order of Orange-Nassau.

Mr. J.R. (Jan) Stallinga

Mr. Stallinga has been the face of the Wassenaar Orange Association (WOV) Queen Wilhelmina for many years since 2007. Not only in the role of chairman, but also active in the preparations for King's Day and the celebration week in August. On Liberation Day, on behalf of the Orange Association, he visited Wassenaarders in the nursing homes with a sweet treat. He was also the chairman of the CDA Wassenaar for 12 years and was recently appointed a council member. Since 2002, Mr. Stallinga has been associated with the Rotary Wassenaar-Wetering. Thus, as chairman (until 2014) and active member, he supports the club's goal of service to society by developing projects locally, nationally and internationally. In 2015, he served two terms as Assistant Governor of District 1600, carrying responsibility for clubs in Wassenaar, Leiden, Leiderdorp and Oegstgeest. He twice received the Paul Harris Fellow award in recognition of his outstanding contribution to putting Rotary thought into practice.

Mr. Stallinga is appointed Member in the Order of Orange-Nassau.

Mr. A. (Aad) de Winter

After studying Law at Erasmus University in Rotterdam with a specialization in "corporate law," Mr. De Winter had a long career in the financial investment world, including NIBC, the Amsterdam Stock Exchange and finally Euronext, where he was director of investments. He was also a partner and director of the Nederlandsche Participatie Exchange.

In addition to a busy job, Mr. De Winter fulfills the following avocations as treasurer Rotary Wassenaar-Ter Horst (1996-2018) and from 1997 to the present he has been an active member of the community service Rotary Wassenaar-Ter Horst.

Also for our neighboring municipality of The Hague, Mr. De Winter has been active for 15 years in the role of treasurer for the Stichting Monumentenfonds Den Haag en Omgeving. This foundation manages monumental residences. The acquired funds are reinvested in heritage projects. Involved coordinates the management and finances of the foundation and directs the accountant. In addition, he has been treasurer and secretary of Stichting Fondsenbeheer Grote Kerk Den Haag since 2013. Because of his background, knowledge and experience, his role as treasurer and administrative responsibility is right up his alley. Because of his many achievements for Rotary, he received the 'Paul Harris Fellow' award from Rotary International and was appointed Honorary Member.

Mr. De Winter is appointed Member in the Order of Orange Nassau.

Ms. J.C. (Jolanda) Meyer-de Vries

Mrs. Meyer-de Vries' career played out in Wassenaar's elementary schools: teacher at Alderman Huibregts School and Bloemcamp School, substitute teacher at St. John Baptist and care for kindergarten class at Kieviet School. She also had time for various side activities, such as collector for the Kidney Foundation and the Red Cross and language buddy for a refugee family. From 2008 she put her heart and soul into De Burcht several days a week. She was a member of the board there for eight years until 2016 and from the beginning also a member of the allocation committee and thus an advisor to the board. De Burcht is an apartment complex for the elderly on Jonkerklaan, with the goal of helping them live independently for as long as possible. Renting out apartments requires a lot of administrative work, including taking care of publicity, keeping the waiting list up to date, tours, and counseling future residents.

As a volunteer, Ms. Meyer also performs a variety of hands-on services such as organizing flower arranging classes and organizing the annual Open House.

Ms. J.C. Meyer-de Vries is appointed a Member of the Order of Orange Nassau.

Mrs. J.M.E. (Joyce) Potter van Loon-Kraaij

Ms. Potter van Loon has been employed at Rijnlands Lyceum Wassenaar (RLW) for over 40 years, where she herself was a student; beginning as a math teacher and for the past eighteen years as a vice principal. In addition to her full-time job, she performs many side activities. For example, for 40 years she has been associated with the Liberals NPB as president (until 1992), committee member and assistant caster. She has also worked for Rotary International and the Rotary Club Wassenaar for 25 years as a member of the youth committee and as a volunteer. For two years she has been a member of the board of the Foundation for the Preservation of the Jewish Cemetery. And for six years she was chairman of the Friends of the Lucas Andreas Hospital Foundation.
The restoration and expansion of the RLW were an enormous challenge, for which Ms. Potter van Loon worked intensively as project coordinator for four years. She also had a central role in the established sponsorship committee to make the restoration financially possible. Together with the then director, she ensured that education could continue during the construction work. A refurbished RLW now stands and there is an international department.

Mrs. Potter van Loon-Kraaij is appointed Member in the Order of Orange-Nassau.

Mayor Leendert de Lange: "For many residents of Wassenaar, it is fortunately still quite normal, alongside your busy existence at home and at work, to dedicate yourself to society. However, the value of voluntary work is very special to our village. It is therefore a great pleasure to be able to put six super volunteers in the spotlight today on behalf of the King. With their long-standing commitment, they make a difference for people and animals in our beautiful village and far beyond."