Photos presentation Royal Decoration
Monday 24 April 2006 at the Aldenhof in Nijmegen at 10.00 hours.
After arriving secretly and subsequently being introduced, accompanied by exuberant live accordion music made by Jan's student, Kees, whilst Jan's daughter and Paola, the student who applied for the Royal Decoration, enter the room clapping their hands and stirring up the present crowd of fifty people to do the same, the Mayor of the city of Nijmegen, Guusje ter Horst, arrives at the spot in the house, where a surprised Jan is standing next to his grand piano. He thought that this would merely be his regular final day, a yearly party with the students of his two piano groups, but now he gets happily surprised with a solemn visit!
Mayor of Nijmegen, Guusje ter Horst, reads her speech in the 'nerd-corner' of the house, where Jan prepares his improvisation lessons devotedly since twenty years now.
Surrounded by f.l.t.r. his brother, Hein, student, Kees, wife, Carolina, student and maker of the application of both the Municipal Honor AND the Royal Decoration, Paola, and daughter, Jan listens attentively, whilst Mayor of Nijmegen, Guusje ter Horst, reads aloud her beautiful speech ....
Then the flowers follow, for Jan from Mayor of Nijmegen Guusje ter Horst, offered on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen of The Netherlands.
Aphasia caused by his brain tumor or not, Jan takes the floor. He says that he cannot talk well anymore, but has heared more about Guusje than he can tell now. The Mayor jokes quickly: ''Well, and a very good thing it is, too!'' The fifty people present start laughing.
Mayor Guusje ter Horst and Knight Jan together on the couch.
Carolina, Guusje, Jan.
Carolina, Guusje and Jan talk about music.
Piano improvisation student, Meta, presents the festively cake.
Jan is very welcome to his Royal Decoration!
A close farewell of such a nice Mayor is proper, of course. 
After the formal part, informal enjoyments follow. Festive piano music of students, Henk and Meta, starts, accompanied by Kees on accordion and Ko on banjo.
Dorien, Jan's first student, congratulates her hero with his well-earned decoration. They know each other for 20 years and Jan holds her long and close in his arms. 
Kisses are no forbidden fruits today. Student, Lisette, brings Jan a healthy present: her love and a basket of fruit. 
And then there is music again! Pleasantly swinging and singing in the garden and than in the picture for a multitude of fans!
Student, Sjanny, makes a beautiful close-up of the acquired trophy and Jan poses proudly for all the cameras. 
And there it is then, THE Royal Decoration of Jan Krammer, pinned under his Municipal Honor the 'Waalbrugspeld'. Jan does not like formal clothing, had his decorations immediately pinned from his jacket to his long sleeve T-shirt. Here they have withstanded a piece of cake as well. With inscription, so it are not any cake crumbs that one sees here!
Thus we congratulate Jan HEARTILY with his succes! The piece of art below, made by his creative back cousin, Moniek, reflects our emotions perfectly!
Happy End
To view the text of the speech click here.
To view the certificate of the Royal Decoration click here.