Two Heemstede councillors awarded Royal Honours for 12 years of public service
Outgoing councillors Thera van der Heijden and Remco Ates received Royal Honours for their dedicated service to Heemstede. Their contributions in local governance, social policy, and urban development have left a lasting impact on the community.
| Key Data Point | Details |
|---|---|
| Recipients | Thera van der Heijden, Remco Ates |
| Honour | Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau |
| Years of Service | 12 years each |
| Political Affiliations | GroenLinks (Van der Heijden), HBB/VVD (Ates) |
| Roles | Councillor, Parliamentary Leader (Van der Heijden), Alderman (Ates) |
| Location | Heemstede, Noord-Holland |
| Award Presented By | Mayor Falgun Binnendijk |
| Date of Award | March 31, 2026 |
The municipality of Heemstede, like other Dutch municipalities, is responsible for local governance, including social policy, urban planning, and community development. Royal Honours are awarded by the Dutch government to individuals who have made significant contributions to society, often on the recommendation of local authorities.
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Royal honours for outgoing councillors Van der Heijden and Ates
On Tuesday evening, March 31, during the final council meeting of the 'old' municipal council, Mayor Falgun Binnendijk presented Royal Honours to Thera van der Heijden and Remco Ates. Both outgoing councillors received this recognition for their long-standing and meaningful contributions to the Heemstede community.
Thera van der Heijden served as a councillor for 12 years and as parliamentary leader for GroenLinks. She was known for her sharp analyses, extensive knowledge of dossiers, and dedication to the social domain.
Remco Ates served as a councillor for 12 years, first for HBB and later for the VVD. Additionally, he held the position of alderman for HBB for two years. In the council, he was known for his calm and authoritative chairmanship of the Space committee and his broad commitment to local governance.
Mayor Falgun Binnendijk spoke at length about their merits before pinning the Royal Honour of Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau onto them.