Honorary Medal for Charitable Assistance

Honorary Medal for Charitable Assistance
The golden Honorary Medal for Charitable Assistance
TypeCivil decoration,
with degrees gold, silver or bronze medal
Awarded forcharitable assistance
Presented by Kingdom of the Netherlands
StatusCurrently awarded
Established18 June 1822
First awardedLieutenant Alexander de Langle
Last awardedJan Zwartendijk
Ribbon bar of the golden honorary medal
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).