NETHERLANDS: Knight Grand Cross in the Order of Orange-Nassau, with Swords

NETHERLANDS: Knight Grand Cross in the Order of Orange-Nassau, with Swords

General Wesley Clark was appointed Knight Grand Cross in the Order of Orange-Nassau with Swords in March 2000.

The Assistant Secretary of Defense, Henk van Hoof, awarded this country’s highest royal distinction to General Clark while he was visiting the Netherlands as part of his farewell tour as NATO Supreme Allied Commander-Europe. His visit also included an audience with Her Majesty, Queen Beatrix.

Dutch press release stated,

“General Clark has fulfilled a particularly stimulating role by the effect of the new NATO command structure and the 'Combined Joint Task Force' concept and he gave an important impulse for the further development of European security and defense policy.”

The statement praised General Clark for his “great knowledge and understanding concerning political-military problems.

The Order of Orange-Nassau was first created in 1890 by the Queen Regent Emma of the Netherlands, acting on behalf of her under-age daughter Queen Wilhelmina and can be considered the Dutch equivalent of the Order of the British Empire.

During World War II, the Order of Orange-Nassau was bestowed to members of the Dutch military as well as members of foreign services who helped liberate the Netherlands from occupation by Nazi Germany. The Orange-Nassau is still the most active military and civil decoration of the Netherlands.

TThe following classes and grades exist for the Order of Orange-Nassau: Grand Cross, Grand Officer, Commander, Officer, Knight, and Member.

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