| Most honours are conferred
during the 'General Occasion', better known as the 'lintjesregen'
(literally: shower of medals). This shower of medals takes place each
year on the last working day before Queen's Day (30 April). However,
the conferral can also take place during a 'Special occasion'. This
occasion must correspond to the focus of the merits of the person being
honoured. The minister determines who will confer the decoration.
Under no circumstances can the official act be carried
out by a private citizen; they are excluded from conferring honours.
The following persons are eligible: the mayor, the Queen's
Commissioner, the minister himself, an official, a person from another
administrative body under direct responsiblity of a minister or an
administrator of another government body, such as a district water
board.
In the case of conferrals in the Netherlands, mayors and
Queen's Commissioners act as representatives of the Crown. Hence the
mayor wears his chain of office with the state arms instead of the
municipal arms on the front.
Conferral on a person living in the Netherlands Antilles
or on Aruba is carried out by the Governor of the Netherlands Antilles
or the Governor of Aruba respectively. He can also be represented by an
official or a representative of an administrative body.
In addition to the decoration, a Royal honour also
includes an official record. This states that Her Majesty the Queen has
decided by Royal Decree to confer a certain grade of honour in one of
the civil orders on the person being honoured. The official record is
signed by the Chancellor of the Netherlands Orders.
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