Honorary Medal for Merits toward Museum Collections

The Honorary Medal for Merits toward Museum Collections (Dutch: Erepenning voor Verdiensten jegens Openbare Verzamelingen), also known as the Museum Medal (Dutch: Museummedaille), is one of the oldest civil decorations of the Netherlands. It was created by royal decree on 26 June 1817 by King William I of the Netherlands. The decree describes the following: "Erepenning voor blijken van belangstelling in 's Rijksverzamelingen door schenking betoond" (English: an honorary medal for appearance of interest in the state collection by donation shown). The medal is awarded in gold, silver or bronze as a token of appreciation to those who "aan hen, die enig boek- of kunstwerk, dat de vrucht van hun arbeid was, de Koning deden toekomen" (English: for those, who donate to the Dutch monarch any works of art, that were collected with much effort).