Three departing Apeldoorn councillors awarded royal honours for public service
Three long-serving Apeldoorn councillors—Jenny Elbertsen, Maaike Moulijn, and Chris Schouten—have been honored with royal distinctions for their dedication to local governance, animal welfare, and social initiatives. Their contributions span over a decade, impacting residents' lives through policy changes and community support.
| Name | Age | Political Party | Role in Apeldoorn Council | Key Contributions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jenny Elbertsen | 52 | VVD | Councillor (2014–2026), Faction Leader (2018–2022) | Advocated for residents' initiatives, recreational zoning, and wolf-proof fencing. |
| Maaike Moulijn | 49 | Party for the Animals | Councillor (2014, 2018–2026), Faction Leader | Focused on animal welfare, sustainability, and biodiversity; co-authored Wij komen op voor de Veluwe. |
| Chris Schouten | 67 | Labour Party | Councillor (2014–2018, 2021–2026), Faction Leader (2021) | Chaired Social Domain working group; improved public toilets and healthcare access. |
| Honour Awarded | Members of the Order of Orange-Nassau | |||
| Ceremony Date | March 31, 2026 |
The Municipality of Apeldoorn, like other Dutch municipalities, is responsible for local governance, including policy implementation, community welfare, and civic honors. Royal distinctions such as the Order of Orange-Nassau are awarded to individuals who have made significant contributions to society, often at the recommendation of local authorities.
Read the full translated article below
Royal honours for three departing councillors
Jenny Elbertsen (52), Maaike Moulijn (49) and Chris Schouten (67) received royal honours on March 31, 2026, from Mayor Ton Heerts. They were appointed Members of the Order of Orange-Nassau. The honours were presented as they bid farewell to the Apeldoorn municipal council, in recognition of their long-standing commitment as council members and advisors.
Jenny Elbertsen (VVD) served as an advisor (2011–2014) and councillor (2014–2026) in Apeldoorn. From 2018 to 2022, she also held the positions of faction leader and deputy council chair. In May 2018, she presented the then governing agreement *De kracht van Apeldoorn* as formateur. Over the years, she made a significant contribution to the structural support for residents' initiatives. She also advocated for recreational zoning (balancing recreation and nature) and nature management. Most recently, she successfully proposed a motion to simplify the installation of wolf-proof fencing, which has since been formalised.
Maaike Moulijn (Party for the Animals) served as an advisor (2010–2018) and councillor (2014 and 2018–2026) in Apeldoorn. From 2018 onwards, she was also faction leader. Additionally, she was a member of the Gelderland provincial council (2015–2019). Within the council, she focused on animal welfare, sustainability and biodiversity. She actively contributed to the evaluation of the animal welfare policy, initiated debates on the meat industry and co-authored the manifesto *Wij komen op voor de Veluwe*, advocating for the preservation and restoration of biodiversity. Outside politics, she champions animal welfare as a co-initiator of *VegaVrijdag* and the *Planty of Food Festival*.
Chris Schouten (Labour Party) served as a councillor (1990–1996) in Naaldwijk and as an advisor (2018–2021) and councillor (2014–2018 and 2021–2026) in Apeldoorn. In both municipalities, he held the position of faction leader (in Apeldoorn from 2021). During his time on the Apeldoorn council, he played a key role as chair of the Social Domain working group in overseeing the transition in the social domain. Through a motion, he contributed to the installation of more public toilets in the city centre, with a focus on people with bowel and bladder issues. He also advocated for improved healthcare, including addressing health disparities between population groups and supporting informal carers.