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The Order of the Crown (Dutch: Kroonorde) is a house order of the Dutch Royal House. The order came into being as a result of Queen Juliana's reorganization of the Order of the House of Orange (Huisorde van Oranje) in 1969. The 18 classes of the house order were no longer felt to be appropriate in the ever more egalitarian Dutch society of the 1960s. The Order was divided into five subdivisions. As a house order it is not subject to ministerial responsibility or influence, but is awarded at the discretion of the Dutch monarch alone.
| Order of the Crown Kroonorde | |
|---|---|
Cross of honour of the Order of the Crown
| |
Awarded by  King of the Netherlands | |
| Type | House Order |
| Established | 30 November 1969 |
| Motto | JE MAINTIENDRAI |
| Eligibility | Foreigners |
| Awarded for | Special service to the Dutch Sovereign or Royal House |
| Status | Currently constituted |
| Sovereign | King Willem-Alexander |
| Chancellor | Jaap Leeuwenburg[1] |
| Grades | Grand Cross Grand Honorary Cross with Star Grand Honorary Cross Honorary Cross with Rosette Honorary Cross Medal in Gold Medal in Silver Medal in Bronze |
| Precedence | |
| Next (higher) | Order of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau |
| Next (lower) | Honorable Mention, Bronze Lion |
| Equivalent | Order of the House of Orange, Order for Loyalty and Merit |
 Ribbon bar of the Order of the Crown | |
The Order of the Crown is intended for "foreigners who have rendered special service to the Dutch King or his House".[2] The former queen, Beatrix, instituted a silver medal to commemorate state visits.
The Order of the Crown has the traditional five grades and three medals. This allows the Dutch monarch to dispense the decorations according to rank especially during state visits. The following five grades and medals with insignia:
| Ribbon bars of the Order of the Crown | ||
|---|---|---|
 Grand Cross |
 Grand Honorary Cross with Star |
 Grand Honorary Cross |
 Honorary Cross with Rosette |
 Honorary Cross |
|
 Gold medal |
 Silver medal |
 Bronze medal |