Long-serving councillors Helma Claassen and Hans van Munster awarded royal honours for dedication to local democracy
Two municipal councillors in Bladel, Helma Claassen and Hans van Munster, have been appointed Members of the Order of Orange-Nassau for their decades of service. Their awards highlight the impact of local governance on community welfare, financial oversight, and social inclusion.
| Key Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Recipients | Helma Claassen and Hans van Munster |
| Honour | Members of the Order of Orange-Nassau |
| Presented by | Mayor Maurits van den Bosch |
| Municipality | Bladel (Noord-Brabant) |
| Political Party | Vrije Hapertse Partij (VHP) |
| Terms Served | 3 consecutive terms (both) |
| Claassen’s Focus | Social inclusion, youth care, climate, women’s rights |
| Van Munster’s Focus | Financial governance, ICT, audit oversight |
| Volunteer Roles | Residents’ committees, band volunteer, treasurer (VHP), KBO (Hapert) |
| Date of Honour | 31 March 2026 |
The municipality of Bladel, like all Dutch local governments, plays a key role in shaping community policies, financial oversight, and social welfare. Municipal councillors act as a bridge between residents and administrative decision-making, ensuring local voices are heard in governance. Royal honours, such as the Order of Orange-Nassau, are awarded by the Dutch monarchy to recognize exceptional contributions to society, including public service.
Read the full translated article below
Two royal honours for municipal councillors
Helma Claassen and Hans van Munster were appointed Members of the Order of Orange-Nassau on Tuesday, 31 March. The honours were presented during a special municipal council meeting by Mayor Maurits van den Bosch. That evening, the outgoing municipal council decided on the admission of newly appointed councillors and said farewell to departing members. Helma Claassen and Hans van Munster served as councillors for the Vrije Hapertse Partij (VHP) and fulfilled this role for three consecutive terms. This royal honour is a special recognition of their long-standing and dedicated commitment to the local community and public administration.
Helma Claassen
Helma Claassen was re-elected as a councillor for the VHP and as a member of the Residents’ Committee in March 2014. In October 2023, she was (once again) appointed deputy faction leader of the VHP.
She had already been active in the municipal council before 2014. During the 2002–2006 term, she served on the Residents’ Committee. From February 2004 to March 2006, she was also a councillor. In 2010, she was part of the Spatial Planning Committee.
Her background in special education reflects her commitment to people, particularly those who need extra attention. She took early retirement in the summer of 2018 but has remained highly active.
In addition to her council work, Claassen serves as secretary of the Roede Residents’ Committee (“Ut Pleintje” in Hapert) and as a volunteer and lady speaker for the Alexander Band Veldhoven. She does this unpaid but with great conviction.
In the council, she was known for thoroughly studying dossiers and representing residents’ voices seriously. She focused on connections between people, good facilities in all villages, affordable youth care, housing that preserves the village character, and attention to climate and the environment. She consistently looked beyond her own place of residence.
Claassen advocated strongly for women’s rights, vulnerable groups, and was known as the progressive voice within the VHP.
With her many years of dedication, social involvement, administrative experience, and warm personality, Helma Claassen has become a familiar and valued figure in the municipality of Bladel. The royal honour is a well-deserved recognition of her commitment to the community.
Hans van Munster
Van Munster was also elected as a councillor for the VHP in 2014 and served as a member of the Resources and General Affairs Committee.
Since June 2018, he has been a member of the Audit Committee, and from October 2023, he served as deputy chair. Since March 2022, he has been the deputy representative of the municipal council in the Audit Chamber sounding board group, and since September 2025, he has been part of the Working Group on Joint Arrangements. Before that, he was also involved in municipal administration. From March 2006 to June 2014, he served as a lay member of the Resources Committee.
Van Munster was a highly engaged and modest councillor, but behind the scenes—within the faction and especially in the Audit Committee—he made his presence felt. His background in ICT, with a focus on personnel and financial systems, made him the financial specialist within the faction.
When it came to budgets, annual accounts, and other financial and control documents, his sharp analyses were relied upon. For the General Debate, his knowledge and preparation were consistently sought after.
For years, Van Munster advocated for sound financial administration in major projects, aiming to enable the municipal council to better monitor, adjust in a timely manner, and prevent financially adverse surprises. This demonstrated his strong commitment to careful financial governance.
In addition to his council work, Van Munster serves unpaid as treasurer of the VHP and as a volunteer with the KBO in Hapert. He was born and raised in South Limburg and moved to Hapert about thirty years ago. He is now retired.
With his many years of dedication, financial expertise, and reliability, Hans van Munster has become a highly skilled and valued municipal councillor. The royal honour is a well-deserved recognition of his valuable contribution to local democracy.