Koninklijk

Koninklijk (pronounced [ˈkoːnɪŋklək] ⓘ, Dutch for 'royal')[a] is an honorary title given to certain companies and non-profit organisations in the Netherlands and to a lesser extent Belgium, by the monarchs of each country.

It was first introduced by Louis Bonaparte in 1807, then King of Holland, who awarded the title to cultural associations.

To qualify for a nomination, the company or organization has to meet the following conditions: As a rule, the monarch will award only one royal title per branch of business.

Medical and financial corporations are excluded, as are organizations with political or religious goals.

The King of the Belgians can appoint the title to a company or association that has been in existence in Belgium for at least fifty years, although rare exceptions are made for newer recipients considered of great importance for society.