Local football volunteer receives royal honour after 40 years of service
Johan Ligtenberg, a dedicated volunteer at football club Excelsior’31 for four decades, has been awarded a royal honour. His commitment to fostering community spirit and organizing events has left a lasting impact on club members and their families.
| Key Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Johan Ligtenberg |
| Honour | Royal honour |
| Years of Service | 40 years |
| Organization | Football club Excelsior’31 |
| Roles Held | Board member, secretary, committee chair |
| Notable Contributions | Digitalisation, archiving, community events |
| Location | Rijssen-Holten, Overijssel |
| Date of Honour | 26 March 2026 |
The municipality of Rijssen-Holten awards royal honours to individuals who have made exceptional contributions to society, often through long-term volunteer work. This recognition highlights the importance of community engagement and local initiatives in strengthening social bonds.
Openrijk is free and ad-free
Do you value our work? Help us stay online with a small contribution.
external link to whydonate.comRead the full translated article below
Royal honour for Johan Ligtenberg
40 years of dedication as a volunteer at a single association: that is truly remarkable! For Johan Ligtenberg, this commitment received an extra golden touch. He was awarded a Royal honour!
For 40 years, Johan has wholeheartedly dedicated himself to football club Excelsior’31. Since joining the board in 1985, he has remained actively involved without interruption. Within the club, he has held various roles: from portfolio holder for lower senior teams to responsible for the selection teams. He also served as chair of the clubhouse committee and played a key role in the digitalisation and archiving of the association. For the past two years, he has been active as secretary.
What makes Johan particularly special is his attention to the people within the association. Thanks to his efforts, events such as 70-plus evenings are organised, and there is an annual afternoon for bereaved members. Moments of connection that mean a great deal to many members.
In short: a well-deserved royal honour!
Do you know someone who has been dedicated to others for years and would like to honour them? You can apply for a royal honour here.
Share via:
Other news
- Final results of the municipal council elections
- Request your travel document in good time
- Dispose of car tyres for free
- Share, rent or repair? Find it nearby
- The Tegeltaxi is back on the road
- Preliminary results of the 2026 municipal council elections
- Election live blog
- 25 years of Rijssen-Holten
- Swimming pool supervisors wanted
- Children’s clothing swap day in Holten