Silver Carnation


The Silver Carnation is a Dutch award that is presented annually to persons of important patriotic behavior, who have achieved something outstanding for Dutch culture or for the Netherlands Antilles in any form of voluntary labor.

History

On June 29, 1940 Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld protested against the German occupation of the Netherlands by wearing of a carnation in his buttonhole. This day would later be known as 'Carnation Day'. Ten years later, the regent and board of the Prince Bernhard Culture Fund, also founded in 1940, decided to establish an award as a token of appreciation for persons of important patriotic behavior, who have achieved excellent earnings for Dutch culture in any form of voluntary labor or for that of the Netherlands Antilles.
The award is presented each year, around the prince's birthday, to a maximum of five people. After his death, Queen Beatrix took over from her father.

Certificate

The award is accompanied by a certificate signed by the chairman of the Fund and the secretary of the Silver Carnation. The certificate describes the decision, the grounds for granting and the substantive basis of the award which is the legacy of Thijs Taconis, a Dutch soldier who was parachuted as an agent for the British Special Operations Executive into the occupied Netherlands and who died in 1944 in the Mauthausen concentration camp. Taconis is remembered in the charter with the words Quae Thijs Taconis - mortuus pro patria anno MCMXLIV legavit pro fundamento sunt.

Medal

First type
The first form was a bell-shaped silver medal. A carnation was depicted on the front, with a 'B' on the stem for Bernhard. Along this scene, in a recessed edge, dotted lines on either side. Along the bottom was a ribbon with the text Tua res agitur. The medal was tied to the ribbon by means of a Royal crown. The ribbon was yellow with a narrow red band on either side. Yellow and red are the colors of the House of Lippe.
Second type
This is a silver medal in the form of a red enameled heraldic rose. This rose is that of the arms of the House of Lippe. The front features a crowned stylized carnation, including Bernhard's 'B'. The description is Tua res agitur. The downside is flat. The obverse features a "B", above which is a stylized carnation. The ribbon is orange with a narrow red band on either side. Orange stands for the House of Orange and the red for the House of Lippe.

Awards

1950

Charles Gomes Casseres - Jewish tradition in Curaçao; as chairman of the Jewish Cultural Historical Museum, promoted the collection and exhibition of objects from the Jewish tradition
Herman and Cora Labberté-Hoedemaker for their role as patrons for visual arts and music students, especially in the Northern Netherlands.