Every year on the occasion of King’s Day, a group of citizens from all countries within the kingdom receives a royal decoration in recognition of the important work they have performed as volunteers or in their primary profession for their fellow citizens and/or for the community. This year, 19 individuals were decorated in Aruba.
Any citizen in Aruba can nominate a person to be considered for a royal decoration, including organizations or institutions. A person cannot nominate themselves! The royal decoration must remain a surprise for the nominated person. Therefore, it is extremely important NOT to inform the candidate about the nomination, and they are not allowed to participate in the process of filling out the forms. This is to avoid disappointment if the decoration is not granted.
The nomination process takes several months and will begin on June 15, 2026. From that moment on, nominations can be submitted to the Aruba Decoration Committee (Decoratiecommissie Aruba). To do this, both attached forms must be completed. For additional copies, forms are available at the counter of the Bestuurskantoor in Playa (Oranjestad) and in San Nicolas, as well as at the MFAs in Savaneta, Santa Cruz, Paradera, and Noord.
In Aruba, the government has tasked the Decoratiecommissie Aruba with processing the nominations and conducting the accompanying investigation. Therefore, the forms and all corresponding documents must be submitted in a sealed envelope addressed to the Decoratiecommissie Aruba at the counter of the Bestuurskantoor in Playa. The envelope must state the following:
Bureau Minister van Algemene Zaken
Attn: Decoratiecommissie Aruba
L.G. Smith Boulevard 76, Oranjestad, Aruba
The final deadline to submit a proposal for a royal decoration for the year 2027 is Friday, July 31, 2026, at 4:00 PM.
When does someone qualify for a royal decoration?
A person may receive a decoration if it concerns personal and special merits for the community. This can involve voluntary work, the performance of paid work in a primary profession, or a combination of both.
a) Personal and special merits for the community in voluntary work: This concerns volunteers who have committed themselves selflessly to organizations for 15 years or more, for example, in the fields of sports, art, culture, religion, nature/environment, social work, youth work, elderly care, public order, and safety.
b) Personal and special merits for the community in daily employment: A person who shows exceptional performance in their job can also be considered. In such cases, it must involve a special and exceptional merit in their work that goes beyond what can normally be expected and from which the community benefits. It cannot solely benefit the company or organization where the person works.
The activities described above must be current. A person who performed meritorious work in the past but has been inactive for the last five years cannot be considered for a royal decoration.
To adequately evaluate the candidate’s merits, it is very important that all requested information is provided as completely and extensively as possible.
Both forms must be filled out completely and in detail.
The nomination must be signed by the person or institution making the proposal (the so-called “proposer”/voorsteller), and all pages must be numbered correctly in the proper sequence.
The statements from the supporters of the proposal (the so-called “supporters”/ondersteuners) are also very important, and all requested information must be provided.
The nomination must be well-founded.
What happens to the request?
Through official channels (the Council of Ministers of Aruba and the Cabinet of the Governor of Aruba), the proposals are sent to the Netherlands to the Chapter for the Civil Orders (Kapittel voor de Civiele Orden). The Chapter examines the documents and advises the Kingdom government. The Chapter is, naturally, very strict. An instance may arise where the proposed person meets all requirements to be eligible for a royal decoration, but they have several unpaid outstanding fines or lack irreproachable conduct. This can hinder the granting of the royal decoration.
It is important to note that the Kapittel voor de Civiele Orden advises the Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations (Minister van Binnenlandse Zaken en Koninkrijksrelaties) on whether or not a royal decoration is granted.
Decoratiecommissie Aruba only processes proposals that are fully completed and submitted on time. The final deadline to submit a proposal for a royal decoration for 2027 is Friday, July 31, 2026, at 4:00 PM. Unfortunately, proposals received after this time and date cannot be processed.
If you have any questions or would like more information, do not hesitate to contact one of the members of the Decoratiecommissie Aruba:
Mrs. Annelien Tromp-Diaz (Tel: 594-1640)
Mrs. Dynia Abath-Muller (Tel: 735-0331)
Mrs. Ingrid E. Nicolaas-Ras (Tel: 592-2232)
Mrs. Roseanna M. Garrido (Tel: 593-1820)
Mrs. Mirella Wijngaarden (Tel: 564-5778)
You can also reach the committee via email at: Info.condeco@arubagovernment.aw
Sincerely,
Decoratiecommissie Aruba