Honorary awards
According to Section 34 of the North Rhine-Westphalia Municipal Code, a municipality can award honorary citizenship to individuals who have rendered outstanding services to the city. Resolutions on the awarding of honorary citizenship are passed by the council with a majority of two thirds of the statutory number of members.
In the course of its history, the pilgrimage town of Kevelaer has awarded honorary citizenship to five deserving people. Two people have been awarded the Golden Ring of Honor of the pilgrimage town of Kevelaer.
Honorary citizen Hansgerd Kronenberg
born on August 8, 1935
Hansgerd Kronenberg was a member of the council of the pilgrimage town of Kevelaer from 1969 to 2020 and head of the Kevelaer village of Winnekendonk from 1970 to 2020. In addition to his many years of political activity, he went far beyond the usual level of commitment to the municipality of Winnekendonk and the pilgrimage town of Kevelaer and, among other things, provided important impetus in the areas of sports promotion and local history. For this reason, the council of the pilgrimage town of Kevelaer decided at its meeting on October 9, 2018 to confer honorary citizenship on Mr. Hansgerd Kronenberg.
Honorary citizen Helmut Esters
born on December 15, 1935 - passed away on August 9, 2017
Born in Kevelaer, Helmut Esters was a member of the German Bundestag from 1969 to 1994. He was also a member of Kevelaer town council from 1969 to 1981. Helmut Esters has always rendered outstanding services to the interests of Kevelaer. The people of Kevelaer remember Helmut Esters in particular for his efforts to balance and support personal and private fates. For these reasons, the Kevelaer City Council decided on December 16, 2008 to award Helmut Esters honorary citizenship.
Honorary citizen Prelate Richard Schulte Staade
born on January 25, 1932 - passed away on January 13, 2020
Pastor Richard Schulte Staade was rector of the pilgrimage in Kevelaer from 1974 to 2006. He rendered outstanding services to the pilgrimage in Kevelaer and many other areas of the town. For this reason, the Kevelaer town council decided at its meeting on February 19, 2002 to award Pastor Richard Schulte Staade honorary citizenship.
Honorary citizen Sister Hermenegildis
born in 1901 - died on December 2, 1976
Sister Hermenegildis worked at Marienhospital Kevelaer for 50 years. As head of the administration, she always took excellent and responsible care of the needs of the Marienhospital. She was also the good soul of the Marienhospital. For this reason, the Kevelaer town council decided to award Sister Hermenegildis honorary citizenship on June 2, 1975.
Honorary citizen Bishop Heinrich Maria Janssen
born on December 28, 1907 - died on October 7, 1988
Bishop Jansen was pilgrimage director and parish priest in Kevelaer. It was thanks to him that the places of worship in Kevelaer, which had been destroyed during the Second World War, were restored and the Marian pilgrimage in Kevelaer was revived after the war. For this reason, the Kevelaer town council decided to award Bishop Janssen honorary citizenship on March 11, 1957.
In light of the findings of an expert report on incidents of abuse in the diocese of Hildesheim during Bishop Heinrich Maria Janssen's time in office, the council of the pilgrimage town of Kevelaer voted at its meeting on February 22, 2022 to distance itself from the honorary citizen award and to rename Bishop Janssen Street.
Winner of the Golden Ring of Honor of the City of Kevelaer Peter Plümpe
born on October 5, 1905 - died on October 22, 1978
Born in Kevelaer, Peter Plümpe was mayor of the town of Kevelaer from 1946 to 1978. The granting of town privileges in May 1949 was the result of a motion by the municipal council under his chairmanship. Together with Dean Jansen, he campaigned for the sponsorship of the "Kevelaer in South Africa" mission station, which still exists today. In addition to his duties as mayor, Peter Plümpe was a member of the Kevelaer volunteer fire department. There he held the office of fire chief and from 1952 the office of chief fire chief. He was also deputy district fire chief from 1950 and district fire chief from 1962. Peter Plümpe wore the ceremonial chain for the Kevelaer volunteer fire department in 1966. Peter Plümpe was awarded the Federal Cross of Merit in 1972.
Due to his services to his home town and on the occasion of his 30th anniversary as mayor of Kevelaer, the town honored him with the Golden Ring of Honor on March 25, 1966.
Winner of the Golden Ring of Honor of the City of Kevelaer Willy Dierkes
born 1899 - died in May 1985
Born in Kevelaer, Willy Dierkes was a co-founder of the Kevelaer CDU. He was chairman of the CDU parliamentary group for 20 years. Willy Dierkes was also a member of the district council until 1969. Due to his services to his home town, the town of Kevelaer honored Willy Dierkes with the town's Golden Ring of Honor on 25 March 1966. To this day, only Mayor Peter Plümpe has been awarded this high honor.