Elst resident Meta de Visser-Verdaasdonk awarded Royal Honour for decades of volunteer work with Mediclowns
Meta de Visser-Verdaasdonk (64) from Elst has been honored as a Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau for her 20+ years of volunteer work, bringing joy and emotional support to vulnerable groups through her role at Stichting Mediclowns and other initiatives.
| Key Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Meta de Visser-Verdaasdonk |
| Age | 64 |
| Location | Elst, Gelderland |
| Award | Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau |
| Role | Regional coordinator-East, Stichting Mediclowns; Founder, Clownmaatjes |
| Volunteer Work | Contact clown, Theater Playback, Church of the Nazarene |
| Award Presented By | Mayor Patricia Hoytink-Roubos |
| Date of Award | 1 April 2026 |
The Municipality of Overbetuwe, through its mayor, is responsible for recognizing local citizens who make significant contributions to society, such as through volunteer work. Royal Honours are awarded to individuals who demonstrate exceptional dedication to community initiatives, often highlighting the importance of civic engagement.
Read the full translated article below
Royal Honour for Meta de Visser - Verdaasdonk from Elst
On Wednesday, 1 April, Mayor Patricia Hoytink-Roubos presented a Royal Honour to Mrs Meta de Visser - Verdaasdonk (64) from Elst. The award was presented at her home in Elst to mark her farewell as regional coordinator-East for Stichting Mediclowns.
Appointed Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau
Meta de Visser - Verdaasdonk has been appointed Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau. In addition to her voluntary work as coordinator, she was also a contact clown and founder of Clownmaatjes, which later merged with Stichting Mediclowns. She is also active for Theater Playback and the Church of the Nazarene, for which she performs with a hand puppet theatre and the church band.
About contact clowns
Contact clowns specialise in performing for people with dementia, the elderly, the chronically ill and people with multiple disabilities. Their main goal is to establish genuine, personal contact and bring distraction, joy and emotional support, often through improvisation and gentle interaction. The clowns often work with repetition to build a bond of trust.