In a ceremonious event held on Friday, Professor Jac Rinkes was formally decorated as Officer in the Order of Orange-Nassau, marking the celebration of his professional retirement. This prestigious royal distinction serves as recognition for his extensive and multifaceted contributions to legal scholarship and societal development spanning several decades.
Mayor Roel Wever of Heerlen presided over the ceremonial pinning of the honor, which acknowledges Professor Rinkes’ exceptional career in legal education and research. His academic journey includes significant tenure at Maastricht University from 1985 to 2014, where he served as Special Professor of European Consumer Law. Since 2001, he has held the position of Professor of Private Law at the Open University of the Netherlands, and since 2013, Professor of European and Comparative Insurance Law at the University of Amsterdam.
Professor Rinkes emerged as a pioneering force in consumer protection law beginning in the 1990s. He played an instrumental role in establishing the Journal of Consumer Law, serving for many years as its editorial secretary and transforming the publication into a leading platform within the legal field. His foundational contributions extended to the creation of the Netherlands Journal of Commercial Law as well.
At the Open University, Professor Rinkes demonstrated transformative leadership by developing and professionalizing research capabilities. He established a private law research group that evolved into a nationally and internationally recognized research center, chairing this department from 2001 to 2023. Notably, he consistently redirected substantial portions of his additional income and research funding back to support the research group, while vigorously advocating for colleagues and staff members.
Beyond Dutch borders, Professor Rinkes maintained particularly strong academic ties with Suriname. Through his work with organization Satya Dharma, he previously received the SURO badge from the Surinamese embassy in The Hague for strengthening bilateral relations between Suriname and the Netherlands. The late President Desi Bouterse appointed him as Knight in the Honorary Order of the Yellow Star in recognition of his active engagement with legal research in Suriname.
His Surinamese initiatives included delivering lectures, supervising doctoral candidates, and encouraging faculty to pursue PhD programs. As research promoter and advisor, he contributed significantly to addressing Suriname’s inheritance issues, providing directional solutions to this deeply rooted societal problem. He also participated in dissertation committees examining corruption and anti-corruption measures in Suriname.
Throughout his career, Professor Rinkes supervised approximately 18 doctoral candidates while supporting numerous Surinamese students with their bachelor’s and master’s theses. His guidance extended to supporting Chequita Ramautar’s doctoral research on Surinamese inheritance matters from the Netherlands.
Ramon Ramsodit of Satya Dharma emphasized that this royal honor not only celebrates Professor Rinkes’ academic career but also acknowledges his enduring significance for legal development and knowledge exchange between the Netherlands and Suriname.