Mayor Stemerdink Presents a Royal Honor to Mr. Van Beelen

Mr. Van Beelen has been active as a volunteer for 45 years, working with local Scouting groups, the regional Scouting organization, and the Dutch Scouting Association (Vereniging Scouting Nederland), with a particular passion for Scouting’s “water activities.” On August 1, 1979, he became a staff member and team leader for the Cub Scout division at the Leif Erikson Scouting Group in Voorschoten. Five years later, he became a staff member and team leader for the Scouts division, serving children aged 11 to 15. After 10 years with Leif Erikson, Mr. Van Beelen made the switch to the Van Woesik Scouting Group in Wassenaar. For the first three years, he served as team leader for the Scouts division, working with boys and girls aged 12 to 16. During this time, he also joined the association’s board as group chair. He held this position for nearly 10 years. In addition, Mr. Van Beelen served on the board of the management foundation for 15 years, holding the positions of vice chair, acting chair, and chair.

Regional Scouting

In addition to his involvement with the local organizations mentioned above, Mr. Van Beelen was also active in regional Scouting. From June 1985 to June 2021, he was a member of the Nautical Technical Committee of the Scouting Regional Admiralty 04 Rijnland. Among other things, he provided nautical training, facilitated the theory and practical exams, mentored candidates, and served as an examiner for the Water Sports Training Commission’s rowing, sailing, and motorboat exams. He was also deeply involved in bringing Scouting into the Water Sports Training Commission (CWO). By collaborating with the CWO, diplomas and skill levels could be standardized across the entire water sports sector. In addition, he served as an advisor on the maintenance of boating equipment.

Admiral

On November 27, 2014, Mr. Van Beelen became chairman—Admiral—of Regional Admiralty 04 Rhineland, the supporting body within Scouting for groups active on the water. For ten years, as chairman, he worked to find solutions that best served the interests of both the groups and their members within the Admiralty. In his role as Admiral of RA4, he also served for 10 years as a board member of the Scouting Region of Central Holland, one of the largest regions in Scouting. In that same capacity as chairman of the Regional Admiralty, Mr. Van Beelen served for over five years as a member of the National Council of the Scouting Association of the Netherlands—the general assembly of the Scouting Association of the Netherlands and, as such, the association’s highest governing body. 

Golden Red Deer

On June 3, 2024, Mr. Van Beelen received the “Golden Red Deer”—the second-highest honor awarded by Scouting Netherlands—for his tireless dedication over the past few years. 

Mr. Van Beelen is being honored—for his contributions to youth welfare—with the title of Knight in the Order of Orange-Nassau.