^{This page is part of © FOTW Flags Of The World website}

Royal Dutch Life Saving Society

Koninklijke Nederlandsche Redding Maatschappij (KNRM)

image by Jarig Bakker, 21 May 2007

KNRM pennant
KNRM old version
KNRM - newer version
Noord- en Zuid-Hollandsche Redding-Maatschappij (Northern and Southern Holland Life-Saving Society)

See also:

KNRM pennant

Here is a link to stickers showing the flag-related emblems of three Dutch life-saving societies (KNRM with orange crown, here): The middle one (KNZHRM) is shown flying on a boat, see photo on the same page. Surely the horse shoe-like object is a life preserver.
Here is a KNRM pennant as advertised on Geman eBay: blue with white orange bordered chevron pointing to – and touching - the hoist, white royal crown (stylized) in upper hoist corner, white initials KNRM (no serifs) in fly. Offered as item no. 170069502466 by “tanzschuhmeister”, end 21 Jan. 2007.
Dimensions are given as 35 x 50 cm.
Jan Mertens, 20 May 2007

KNRM old version

image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 20 May 2007

Royal Dutch Life Saving Society / Koninklijke Nederlandsche Redding Maatschappij (KNRM)

On 11 November 1824 Noord en Zuid Hollandsche Redding Maatschappij (NZHRM) was established in Amsterdam.
On 20 November 1824 Zuid Hollandsche Maatschappij tot Redding van Schipbreukelingen (ZHMRS) was established in Rotterdam.
26 December 1824 first rescue using a rowing boat; five people had been saved.
In 1865 first retreatment room for shipwrecked was established in Terschelling.
In 1885 a baywatch system based on watchtowers was established.
In 1949 both organizations gained the title "Koninklijke" (=Royal).
In 1951 the search and rescue service of Dutch Navy was established.
In 1953 the last rowing boat was replaced by a motorboat.
In 1974 both organizations are celebrating there 150-anniversary together.
On 22 May 1991 the KNZHRM and the KZHMRS merge, forming the KNRM. As usual the date of establishment 11 November 1824 was kept.
In 1999 the KNRM celebrates its 175-anniversary.
For further information: See Society's website.

Description of flag: Old version: It's a blue flag divided by an orange cotized white saltire. In the centre of the flag is a blue crown.
Source: this one or similar spotted on 26 November 2006 at Modellbauwelt Hamburg on a donation box. This image is based on a photo of Arie van Dijk (KNRM).
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 20 May 2007

KNRM - newer version

image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 20 May 2007

Newer version: It's a white flag with the orange logo and black capital letters "KNRM" at the bottom edge of flag. The logo to me seems to show a drowning person (head above two waves).
Source: spotted on 26 November 2006 at Modellbauwelt Hamburg.
The new flag might have been established after the merging in 1991, but I couldn't find out more details. I also do not know, whether the "old" flag is flag of the KNRM or of one of its predecessors.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 20 May 2007

Noord- en Zuid-Hollandsche Redding-Maatschappij
(Northern and Southern Holland Life-Saving Society)

1924-1949 version

image by Željko Heimer, 29 August 2017

From Mattern (1987): Noord- en Zuid-Hollandsche Redding-Maatschappij (Northern and Southern Holland Life-Saving Society), est. November 1824, flag designed E. M. Eden (Matern claims he was a well known Dutch marine painter), in 1924 for the centenary. Matterns describes the flag as orange-white-blue, adding a golden crown above the life-buoy in 1949 (when the societies were granted the title Royal). It would be dificult to draw anything from the description and to guess colours from Mattern drawing, but luckily enough images of these flags are on-line, e.g. https://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/ODY2WDEwMjQ=/z/93gAAOSwAPVZMsOK/$_82.JPG. The buoy is in the horse-shoe shape.

1924-1949 version

image by Željko Heimer, 29 August 2017

From Mattern (1987): The "first flag" is described by Mattern but not shown, as a green flag with letter "N.Z.& H.R.M" (sic! should be "N.& Z.H.R.M"?),
documented in 1914.

Zuid-Hollandsche Maatschappij tot Redding van Schipbreukelingen (Mattern: Southern Holland Society for Life-Saving Shipwrecked persons), est. also November 1824. Flag white, light blue cross fimbriated orange, black ZHRM in each canton, designed 1924 by A. J.M. Goudriana.
Željko Heimer, 29 August 2017