Order for Loyalty and Merit

The Order for Loyalty and Merit (Dutch: Orde van Trouw en Verdienste) is a house order of the Dutch Royal House of Orange-Nassau. The Order came into being as a result of Queen Juliana's reorganization of The House Order of Orange (Huisorde van Oranje) in 1969.

Order for Loyalty and Merit Orde van Trouw en Verdienste
Cross in Gold of the Order for Loyalty and Merit
Awarded by the King of the Netherlands
Type	House Order
Established	30 November 1969
Motto	JE MAINTIENDRAI
Awarded for	Those persons who have loyally and faithfully, and with merit and character assisted the Head of State or the members of the Royal House during their obligations and their daily work.
Status	Currently constituted
Grand Master	King Willem-Alexander
Chancellor	Jaap Leeuwenburg[1]
Grades	Cross for Loyalty and Merit in gold and silver
Precedence
Next (higher)	Order of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau
Next (lower)	Honorable Mention, Bronze Lion
Equivalent	Order of the House of Orange, Order of the Crown
Ribbon bar of the Order for Loyalty and Merit

The Order for Loyalty and Merit is conferred "upon those persons who have loyally and faithfully, and with merit and character assisted the Head of State or the members of the Royal House during their obligations and their daily work."

The order has two grades:

1. Cross for Loyalty and Merit in Gold;
2. Cross for Loyalty and Merit in Silver.

The cross in gold or silver is worn on a ribbon on the left chest. The decorations are awarded after 25 and 40 years of service. The monarch is lenient as far as the number of years in his service are concerned. Hardly anyone manages to work until his or her 65th birthday. Many servants of the King receive their Cross of merit for Loyalty and Merit in Gold after 35 years in the Royal Household.

References

1. Koning benoemt nieuwe Kanselier der Huisorden - website of the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf