Governor Emile Roemer paid tribute to the Limburg band. Rowwen Hèze is one of the Netherlands largest dialect pop performers and makes a significant contribution to the promotion of Limburgish as a regional language. Not only through music, but also as a cultural ambassador of the province. The bands efforts contribute to the visibility, appreciation, and survival of Limburgish both within and beyond the provinces borders.
The songs of Rowwen Hèze help ensure that Limburgish is also experienced as a fully-fledged regional language throughout the rest of the Netherlands. The band has shown like no other how regional language and musical quality can go hand in hand and gain broad recognition. Rowwen Hèze has made an innovative contribution to Dutch music culture and occupies a special place in the Dutch music world.
After the governors speech, the Royal distinctions were awarded to the band members by the mayors of their municipalities: Tren van Enckevort, Jack Haegens, and Martîn Rongen by Mayor Ryan Palmen of Horst aan de Maas, Theo Joosten by Mayor Yolanda Hoogtanders of Roermond, and Wladimir Geels by Mayor Jeffrey van Agtmaal of Roerdalen. Lead singer Jack Poels was previously appointed Knight in the Order of Orange-Nassau in 2007.
