Sir Raymundo del Rosario, KGCR, Supreme Commander of the Order of the Knights of Rizal (KOR), conducted a flower-offering ceremony on 11 October at the Rizal Courtyard of the Philippine Embassy, together with the members of the KOR Chapters of The Hague, Rotterdam, Amsterdam, and Utrecht, and other KOR officials from Belgium.
The Embassy through its chargé d’affaires, a.i., Minister Jarie Osias, highlighted the important role of KOR in the Netherlands in supporting and assisting the Filipino community in the country. “The KOR Chapters have been the Embassy’s key partners in extending assistance to the Filipino community members, regardless of their migration status,” In alluding to the connections of Rizal with the Netherlands, Minister Osias mentioned the significance of the renowned Dutch writer Edward Douwes Dekker (pen-name Multatuli) whose novel ‘Max Havelaar: The Coffee Auctions of the Dutch Trading Company’ made a deep impression on Dr. Jose Rizal when he was writing the novel El Filibusterismo.
Meanwhile, Supreme Commander del Rosario highlighted the projects undertaken by the KOR during his tenure, and praised the KOR Chapters in the Netherlands for “reflecting Filipino camaraderie and patriotism” through their respective initiatives. He is in The Hague as part of the 10th year anniversary of the Order of KOR-The Hague Chapter and in relation to his activities with other KOR Chapters in Europe, which includes his participation to the 9th European Regional Assembly of the Knights of Rizal held on 3-5 October in Prague, Czechia.
Sir Anton Lutter, KCR, Chapter Commander of KOR-The Hague, thanked the Chapter Commanders in the Netherlands including Sir Alexander Onia, KGOR, who is the KOR Supreme Council country representative for the Netherlands. He likewise commended Sir Onia’s leadership for the expansion of the Order in The Netherlands, with the establishment of three new Chapters in the country, that is in Rotterdam, Amsterdam, and Utrecht.
The Supreme Commander noted that during the recent KOR European General Assembly in Prague, two KOR members from the Netherlands, namely Sir Sta. Brigida-Kopp, KCR (Chapter Commander KOR-Amsterdam) and Sir Steef Klarenbeek, KOR (KOR-The Hague) received “Distinguished Service Medal Awards.” Sir Sta. Brigida-Kopp was recognized for “exemplary service and dedication to the Philippines and to the Order through their outstanding contributions to civic, cultural, and community advancement which upholds Rizalian ideals.” On the other hand, Sir Klarenbeek was awarded for his longstanding and dedicated service of 21 years in support of an orphanage in Quezon City and Tondo.
On the same occasion, Sir Mark Andrew Hernandez, KOR was elevated to a Knight Officer and appointed as Deputy Chapter Commander of Amsterdam, while Sir Ryan Aquino, KR (Amsterdam) and Sir Eduard Slootweg, KR (The Hague) were likewise knighted.
The Order of the Knights of Rizal is a civic and patriotic organization established by Republic Act No. 646 as an instrumentality by which the teachings of Rizal may be propagated among the Filipino people and others who may believe in his teachings and may emulate and follow his examples. // END
Source: Philippine Embassy in the Netherlands Facebook post 13 October 2025 https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DiZfCYpfu/?mibextid=wwXIfr
