The Netherlands Red Cross () was founded in 1867. It is among the
Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. It adopts branch governance structure which leads to approximately 214 branches that enables it to serve the whole country.
It is run by paid staff at the national and district level in collaboration with 17,000 volunteers who are distributed all over the Netherlands. The organization's efforts are financed by 450,000 contributing affiliates and donors, who make available monetary help frequently. Its revenue in 2006 was €58.8 million.
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History
In 1862, "A Memory of Solferino" appeared, in which Swiss businessman Jean Henri Dunant
Henry Dunant (born Jean-Henri Dunant; 8 May 182830 October 1910), also known as Henri Dunant, was a Swiss humanitarian, businessman, social activist, and co-founder of the Red Cross. His humanitarian efforts won him the first Nobel Peace Prize i ...
recounted what he had found after the Battle of Solferino
The Battle of Solferino (referred to in Italy as the Battle of Solferino and San Martino) on 24 June 1859 resulted in the victory of the allied Second French Empire, French army under Napoleon III and the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia, Piedmont- ...
: a battlefield with 40,000 wounded soldiers, left unkempt by the armies that had fought there. The Dutch army doctor Johan Basting Johan may refer to:
* Johan (given name)
* ''Johan'' (1921 film), a Swedish film directed by Mauritz Stiller
* Johan (2005 film), a Dutch romantic comedy film
* Johan (band), a Dutch pop-group
** ''Johan'' (album), a 1996 album by the group
* Joh ...
translated the book in early 1863 and was received by Queen Mother Anna Pavlovna and Prince Frederik. In October of that year, Basting was delegated to the international conference in Geneva, but without a mandate. The Dutch government was very reticent in matters pertaining to international politics. In November 1864 it did sign the First Geneva Convention
The First Geneva Convention, officially the Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded in Armies in the Field (), held on 22 August 1864, is the first of four treaties of the Geneva Conventions. It defines "the basis on whic ...
on the treatment of wounded and prisoners of war and the status of neutral aid workers. Basting, meanwhile, continued to strive for a national organization, such as had already been created in a number of countries.
On July 19, 1867, King Willem III signed the Royal Decree no. 60 at Het Loo Palace, the first article of which reads: “There shall be a Nederlandsche Vereeniging to provide aid to sick and wounded soldiers in time of war, whether the Netherlands is involved or not.”
The first Main Committee and the first honorary members were appointed by Royal Decree of July 31, 1867, no 71. These honorary members were: Henri Dunant, Lieutenant Colonel W.J. Button, Dr. J.H.Ch. Basting and the former naval officer C.W.M. van de Velde. The first chairman was Prof. Dr. J. Bosscha (1867-1872).
References
External links
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1867 establishments in the Netherlands
Medical and health organisations based in the Netherlands
Organizations established in 1867
Red Cross and Red Crescent national societies
{{Netherlands-org-stub