De Ruyter Medal

De Ruyter Medal (Dutch: De Ruyter-medaille) was created by royal decree no. 1 on 23 March 1907 by Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands, on the three hundredth birthday of Admiral Michiel de Ruyter.^[1]

De Ruyter Medal
Type	Civil decoration, with degrees gold, silver and bronze
Awarded for	praiseworthy acts of duty for Dutch shipping
Description	circular medal with a picture of Michiel de Ruyter on the obverse. The medal is worn with a dark orange ribbon.
Presented by	Kingdom of the Netherlands
Eligibility	seamen, shipowners, and for rescues at sea
Status	Currently awarded
Established	23 March 1907
First award	Skipper P.J.A. Kramer (1907)
Final award	Captain Yevhenii Feshchenko, captain of the Hanze Goteborg (2023)1
Total	209 (93 gold, 88 silver, 28 bronze)
Ribbon bar of the golden De Ruyter Medal
Precedence
Next (higher)	KNMI Medal
Next (lower)	Museum Medal

The medal is awarded to those members of the Dutch Merchant fleet who distinguish themselves by praiseworthy acts of duty for Dutch shipping. The medal was originally awarded in gold, silver or bronze, with only gold medals awarded since 1969. Awards are on basis by nomination of the Netherlands government and by royal decree.

Michiel de Ruyter