ORANJESTAD - The oldest person to receive a royal award this year is 110-year-old Mary Benjamin from Aruba. She appears to be the oldest knighted person ever, reports the Chapter of the Civil Orders. 2,832 people in the Kingdom were told on Monday that they will receive a ribbon.
Benjamin was a "dedicated volunteer" with the Women's League of the Methodist Church for 44 years. She has been appointed Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau. Last year, 95-year-old Toos Wierema-Ballings from Eindhoven was probably the oldest recipient of an award.
It is not entirely possible to say with certainty who the oldest recipient is. The award system has existed since 1815 and the age of the recipients has not always been kept up to date.
At 35 years old, Marleen Mulders from Tilburg is the youngest person to receive a ribbon in 2021. She has been committed to children with cancer since 2002.
On Curaçao 32 people received a ribbon. On Sunday, the governor of Curaçao informed all recipients by telephone of their honorable decoration.