Claudia de Breij with Utrecht mayor Sharon Dijksma. Photo: Jeroen Jumelet ANP
In total 2,828 people have been recognised in the king’s birthday honours list which was published on Monday.
This year’s recipients include comedian Claudia de Breij, bridge master Anton Maas and volunteer Mary Benjamin, who at the age of 110 is the oldest person ever to have been recognized in the list.
The annual honours list is always announced the day before the monarch’s birthday and focuses mainly on people who have made a major contribution to society, usually in the form of volunteering.
Traditionally, the honours are handed out by local mayors at the country’s town halls, but this year coronavirus prompted them to be more creative. Some mayors visited the recipients on a decorated bike, while in Westland a camper was converted for the day.