Honorary Medal for Charitable Assistance | |
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Type | Civil decoration, with degrees gold, silver or bronze medal |
Awarded for | charitable assistance |
Presented by | Kingdom of the Netherlands |
Status | Currently awarded |
Established | 18 June 1822 |
First awarded | Lieutenant Alexander de Langle |
Last awarded | Jan Zwartendijk |
Precedence | |
Next (higher) | Gold: Dutch Cross of Resistance Silver and Bronze: Airman's Cross |
Next (lower) | Gold: Order of the Netherlands Lion Silver and Bronze: KNMI Medal |
The Honorary Medal for Charitable Assistance (Dutch: Erepenning voor Menslievend Hulpbetoon) was created at 18 June 1822 and is after the Military William Order the oldest decoration for bravery in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Furthermore, the Honorary Medal is the highest civilian decoration still being awarded for bravery, and is specifically for those who carried out a voluntary act of bravery or self-sacrifice, with an emphasis on charity.
The medal can be awarded in gold, silver or bronze. Awarding is on basis by nomination of the Netherlands government and by royal decree. The golden medal has precedence only after the Dutch Cross of Resistance (also a civilian bravery decoration, but not awarded anymore), and the silver and bronze medals have precedence after the Airman's Cross (a military bravery award).