Order of the Golden Ark

Order of the Golden Ark
Award of the  Netherlands
Type	Order of Merit
Awarded for	Significant contributions to nature conservation
Grand Master	Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands
Statistics
Established	1971
Precedence
Next (higher)	Teutonic Order, Bailiwick of Utrecht
Next (lower)	Cross for the Four Day Marches Awards of Dutch NGO's
Ribbon of the order

The Most Excellent Order of the Golden Ark (Dutch: Orde van de Gouden Ark) is a Dutch order of merit established in 1971 by Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands. It is awarded to people for major contributions to nature conservation. Although not awarded by the government of the Netherlands, it is considered by the government as a recognized chivalrous order. Since its inception, over 300 people have been recognised by the award. Now that Prince Bernhard has died, the future of the order is uncertain.

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