Decoration for Heerlen resident Jac Rinkes
On January 16, 2026, Professor Jac Rinkes of Heerlen was awarded the royal distinction of Officer in the Order of Orange Nassau on the occasion of his retirement. Through his long-standing commitment, Mr. Rinkes has made a special contribution to society and to legal science.
Jac Rinkes was affiliated with Maastricht University from 1985 to 2014, where he worked as a professor of European consumer law, among other things. Since 2001, he has been a professor of private law at the Open University of the Netherlands. In addition, he has been a professor of European and comparative insurance law at the University of Amsterdam since 2013.
Since the 1990s, he has been intensively involved in the development of consumer law and consumer protection. He was one of the founders of the Journal of Consumer Law, of which he was editorial secretary for many years. This journal has grown into a leading platform within the legal field. He also made an important contribution to the establishment of the Dutch Journal of Commercial Law.
Professionalizing research tasks at the Open University
At the Open University, Jac Rinkes played a key role in establishing and professionalizing the research department. In addition to developing innovative educational programs, he founded a private law research group that grew into a nationally and internationally recognized research center. From 2001 to 2023, he was chair of this department. He reinvested a significant portion of his additional income and research funds back into the research group. He was known for his strong commitment to colleagues and staff, whose interests he defended with conviction.
Strengthening Anton de Kom University Suriname
Internationally, he made an important contribution to strengthening the scientific framework of the Anton de Kom University of Suriname. He gave lectures, supervised PhD students, and encouraged lecturers to start PhD programs. As a supervisor and mentor, he was closely involved in research into the Surinamese estate issue, a deeply rooted social problem, for which he helped to propose solutions. He was also a member of assessment committees for dissertations in the field of corruption and anti-corruption in Suriname.
During his career, he supervised approximately 18 PhD students, often at a time when research at the Open University was still in its infancy. He also published dozens of scientific articles and books, including the Handbook of Consumer Law, and gave many lectures and symposiums.
Additional functions
In addition to his academic work, Jac Rinkes held numerous social positions. Since 2011, he has been a board member of the Mercatura Honesta Foundation, which is committed to promoting the practice of commercial law. He organized symposiums throughout the country and financed the foundation partly from his own resources. He is also a deputy judge at the Arnhem-Leeuwarden Court of Appeal, a deputy judge at the Rotterdam District Court, chairman of the Health Liability Disputes Committee, and a member of various editorial and supervisory bodies.
Previous awards
In 2016, he received the Open University Science Award for his exceptional research achievements. In 2020, he was awarded the SURO pin at the Surinamese embassy in The Hague for his efforts to strengthen ties between Suriname and the Netherlands.