Dutch Humanitarian Receives Ukraine's Highest Civilian Honor

Dutch Humanitarian Receives Ukraine's Highest Civilian Honor

Piet Spijkers, an 85-year-old humanitarian from Tilburg, Netherlands, has been awarded Ukraine's prestigious Order of Merit, First Class by President Volodymyr Zelensky for his three decades of dedicated service to Ukrainian children. The ceremony took place today at the Ukrainian embassy in The Hague.

Three Decades of Humanitarian Work

Spijkers began his humanitarian mission in 1996 after witnessing the devastating conditions in Ukrainian hospitals following the Chernobyl disaster. "When I visited the Chernobyl hospital and saw the children's suffering, I knew I had to do something," Spijkers recalled. His foundation, Stichting Humanitaire Hulp Kinderen Oekraïne, has since provided critical support to oncological hospitals and deaf institutes across multiple Ukrainian cities.

The foundation's work has become increasingly vital since Russia's invasion, with Spijkers noting, "There is high demand for mobility scooters for children who have stepped on mines left behind by Russian forces."

Rare Honor for Foreign National

Spijkers becomes the first Dutch citizen to receive the Order of Merit in the first class, Ukraine's highest civilian honor. The award follows previous recognitions in the third class (2010) and second class (2020), demonstrating his consistent commitment. Only twenty Dutch citizens have received the third class honor, including mayors Jan van Zanen of The Hague and Ahmed Aboutaleb of Rotterdam.

The Order of Merit, established in 1996 by President Leonid Kuchma, recognizes outstanding achievements in economic, scientific, cultural, military, or political spheres. According to Wikipedia, recipients are officially titled "Chevalier of the Order of Merit."

Modest Humanitarian

Despite the high honor, Spijkers remains characteristically humble. "The recognition is surprising," he admitted. "For me, it's not about the honor but about the volunteers, sponsors, and the help we provide. That's the goal, though a pat on the shoulder is never unwelcome."

While he has met all previous Ukrainian presidents, Spijkers has yet to meet President Zelensky. "He hasn't made a state visit to the Netherlands yet," Spijkers explained. Should such a visit occur, his new status would likely grant him an invitation to the state banquet.