The Netherlands Johanniter Order

The Knightly Order of Saint John of Jerusalem in the Netherlands (Johanniter Orde in Nederland)

The Bailiwick of Utrecht and commandery of Haarlem were among the wealthiest properties of the Order; the former including eleven subordinate commanderies whose loss during the reformation meant a major reduction in the revenues of the German Langue. The commandery of Haarlem was one of the wealthiest in the Langue and became a major art patron during the fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries; much of this heritage has survived although it is distributed among a number of public and private collections. Following the protestantisation of much of North Germany, the members of the Order of Saint John in the Netherlands chose to ally themselves with the reformed Bailiwick of Brandenburg, being unable to continue under the authority of the Grand Master on Malta. The properties of the Order in Haarlem were confiscated by the State of Holland and, subsequently, the Order of Malta renounced its claims in return for a large capital payment. Like their German confreres, being separated from the Convent of the Order they no longer fulfilled a military function and the very few knights of Dutch origin enjoyed a purely honorific status.

The Order was illegally suppressed by a decree of the French occupying forces in 1810 and, with the abolition of the Bailiwick of Brandenburg in 1811, it disappeared. When the Bailiwick was restored in 1852 several Dutch nobleman were admitted and, later at the instigation of Prince Henry of the Netherlands, a separate commandery was created under the protection of the Dutch Crown, by a royal decree of 30 April 1909. Following the Second World War it was reorganized independently of the Bailiwick of Brandenburg, becoming directly dependent on the Dutch Crown, but without becoming a Dutch State Order, on 5 March 1946 and, on 10 September 1958, was officially renamed the "Johanniter Orde in Nederland". The present Queen has the title of Honorary Commander (Erecommandeur) while her father, Prince Bernhard, since 1954 has been the landcommandeur, governing the Order with a Chapter of eight other knights.

The Order continues its ancient charitable and hospitaller mission, supporting several hospitals and hospices, as well as an association of qualified Johanniter nurses. In 1975 the Order joined with the Bailiwick of Utrecht of the Teutonic Order, forming the Stichting Werken van de Johanniter Orde in Nederland en der Ridderlijke Duitsche Orde Balije van Utrecht to co-ordinate various volunteer activities. It also co-operates closely with parallel organizations of the Dutch Association of the SMHOM through two other charitable foundations, the Stichting Commanderijen van Sint Jan, and a youth organization, the MALJOH, a society formed by aspirant Malta and Johanniter knights. The Stichting Werken provides social relief regardless of the religious or political persuasion of those it serves, following the principles of Christian charity. It supervises voluntary activities and fund-raising, particularly in connection with assistance to the disabled and care for the elderly, and also provides training for volunteers. The administration is consigned to professionals who are employed by the foundation to ensure that it carries out its mission effectively. Among its future projects are the foundation of centers for assisting the aged and handicapped and expanding its existing volunteer activities, particularly in providing vacations for the disabled and elderly.

Membership has been extended to include ladies since 29 February 1952 and, on 28 August 1990, the statutes were revised so that the members of the Vereniging Damesafdeling (the Union of Dames of the Johanniter Order, formally organized separately), were given equal status with the knights. At the same time the Vereniging Damesafdeling was dissolved and the Order was organized into two Convents, one of knights and the other of dames. Male postulants were formerly admitted as Ridder-Expectant between the ages of twenty-one and twenty-five, when they were appointed knights of honor (Ereridder). After the age of thirty and after at least five years as a knight of honor they could be elected knights of Justice (Rechtsridder). These rules have now been modified and protestant noble gentlemen and ladies (or non-noble ladies married to a nobleman) may be admitted as knights or dames at the age of eighteen (the appellation "of honor", or Ere-, has been abolished). Following at least five years membership and provided they have served the Order diligently they may be promoted to the class of knight or dame of Justice. Today there are approximately three hundred and twenty-five members of the knights Convent, of whom one hundred are knights of Justice, and three hundred and twenty members of the dames Convent, of whom eighty-five are dames of Justice.

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