Netherlands State Visit Medal for South Korea - Ruud Lubbers - by Koninklijk Begeer EF

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Netherlands – 1985 State Visit Medal for South Korea by Koninklijk Begeer

Obverse:
Royal coat of arms of the Kingdom of the Netherlands: a crowned shield bearing the Dutch lion with sword and arrows, supported by two rampant lions, above a scroll with the national motto “JE MAINTIENDRAI”.

Reverse:
Korean-language inscription within a laurel wreath. The text reads:
“대한민국 공식 방문 기념 / 화란국 총리대신 루버스 / 1985년 4월”
(Translation: “Commemoration of the Official Visit to the Republic of Korea by the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, April 1985.”)

Historical Context:
This medal was issued to commemorate the historic official state visit of Dutch Prime Minister Ruud Lubbers and Foreign Minister Hans van den Broek to South Korea in April 1985 — the first visit of its kind in Dutch-Korean diplomatic history. Taking place from April 12–16, the visit marked a major step in strengthening political and economic ties between the two nations, which had established formal relations in 1961 and shared a bond since the Korean War, when Dutch soldiers fought under the UN Command.

Prime Minister Lubbers was received with full state honors by President Chun Doo-hwan and Prime Minister Lho Shin-yong. During the visit, both sides affirmed their commitment to expand bilateral cooperation, promote joint ventures, and support technology exchange. Lubbers also visited Hoengseong County in Gangwon Province, where he laid wreaths at war memorials for Dutch soldiers who died during the Korean War — including a tribute to Lt. Colonel Marinus den Ouden. This emotional gesture underscored the historical bond between the two nations and was widely reported in Korean media.

The visit took place during a period of growing global recognition for South Korea, as it prepared to host the 1988 Seoul Olympics and pursued cautious steps toward national reconciliation. The Dutch delegation’s presence demonstrated the Netherlands’ support for South Korea’s development and strategic importance within the Western alliance during the Cold War.

Production:
This commemorative medal was struck by Koninklijk Begeer, the Dutch royal supplier of medals and orders, and was likely commissioned by the government as an official diplomatic gift. Made of bronze and measuring approximately 60 mm in diameter, the medal was not issued to the public and remains rare today. Its bilingual character — Dutch heraldry on the obverse, Korean inscription on the reverse — makes it a powerful symbol of international diplomacy and a valuable piece for collectors interested in Cold War history, Dutch foreign policy, or Korean diplomatic memorabilia.

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