Kinderpostzegels received the Royal designation on Thursday, November 28th. The award was presented by King's Commissioner Wouter Kolff to Sofie Vriends, director of Kinderpostzegels, during the anniversary conference, attended by hundreds of Kinderpostzegels partners . The charity—known for its annual Kinderpostzegels campaign, among other things—has been committed to helping children in need for 100 years. The recognition of the designation makes the anniversary year, which focuses on strengthening children's resilience, extra special.
Kinderpostzegels was founded in 1924, the year in which the charity stamp for children was introduced. The annual children's stamp campaign—conceived by a schoolteacher in 1948—has since become part of Dutch cultural heritage. Based on the conviction that every child deserves equal opportunities, Kinderpostzegels carries out various projects throughout the year in countries including the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Africa, and Asia. The charity also facilitated the establishment of the Children's Helpline in 1979, and in 2011, Kinderpostzegels laid the foundation for the establishment of the Children's Ombudsman.
Sofie Vriends, director of Kinderpostzegels: "Kinderpostzegels has been working with children for children for a hundred years. With a team of dedicated professionals, we make this possible every day, year-round, and more than half of all Dutch citizens have contributed to our mission at some point. This royal recognition is the crowning achievement of our joint work. We can now add the Royal designation to our name, a seal of quality we are immensely proud of."
Wouter Kolff, King's Commissioner for South Holland: "We are celebrating not only a century of exceptional dedication to underprivileged children, but also a deep-rooted tradition of collaboration, creativity, and social engagement that has strengthened Dutch society."
The Royal designation, introduced by King Louis Napoleon in 1806, is the oldest royal distinction in the Netherlands. It symbolizes the King's respect, appreciation, and trust for the recipient. Today, it is awarded by King Willem-Alexander to companies, associations, and foundations that have existed for at least 100 years and meet strict criteria, such as an excellent reputation and an impeccable board and management team. Kinderpostzegels meets all requirements.