Order of Leopold II

Order of Leopold II
Ordre de Léopold II
Orde van Leopold II
Officer's cross of the Order of Leopold II
Awarded by King of the Belgians
TypeOrder of Merit with five classes and three medals
Established24 August 1900
1900 – 1908 (Order of Congo)
1908 – present (as Belgian Order)
MottoEENDRACHT MAAKT MACHT -
L'UNION FAIT LA FORCE
EligibilityEligible for persons above the age of 42
Awarded forBravery in combat or meritorious service
StatusCurrently constituted
Grand MasterHis Majesty King Philippe
GradesGrand Cross
Grand Officer
Commander
Officer
Knight
Precedence
Next (higher)Order of the Crown
Next (lower)Military Decoration for gallantry or exceptional devotion


The Order of Leopold II is an order of Belgium and is named in honor of King Leopold II. The decoration was established on 24 August 1900 by Leopold II as Sovereign of the Congo Free State and was in 1908, upon Congo being handed over to Belgium, incorporated into the Belgian awards system. The order is awarded for meritorious service to the sovereign of Belgium, and as a token of his personal goodwill. It can be awarded to both Belgians and foreigners, and is seen as diplomatic gift of merit.[1]

The order has become a long service order for people in the civil service and is awarded alternatively with the Order of the Crown, as the Order of Leopold is awarded under rarer circumstances. The order currently stands third after the Order of Leopold (1st) and the Order of the Crown (2nd) in the Belgian honors hierarchy. The Order of Leopold II is awarded by royal decree.

  1. ^ "6 savoureux restaurateurs décorés à Bruxelles". Didier Reynders.