In addition to the possibility provided for in § 34 of the municipal code for the state of North Rhine-Westphalia to award honorary citizenship to individuals who have rendered outstanding services to the community, many cities have created other ways of recognizing the outstanding achievements of their citizens through special honours. In addition to honorary citizenship, the city of Aachen has the Golden Ring of Honor as a form of award for personalities who have made a life's work and shown great commitment to the well-being and reputation of the city of Aachen and its citizens.
The awarding of the Ring of Honor is decided by the Aachen City Council. This is always a case-by-case decision. There are no fixed criteria as to which merits are worthy of an award. There is therefore no entitlement to the award and no one can apply for it themselves.
The Golden Ring of Honor has been awarded since 1972. It is designed as a signet ring and features the city coat of arms, i.e. an eagle looking to the right. In terms of material, cut and texture, the rings of honor awarded to date have an individual appearance due to the personal style of the goldsmiths designing the rings of honor. In contrast to the signet ring for men, the corresponding award for women is presented in the form of a brooch as an honorary pin.
The award is presented by the Lord Mayor in Aachen City Hall.
Ring of Honor recipients
To date, the following personalities have been awarded the Ring of Honor or the Badge of Honor of the City of Aachen:
Georg Helg
Co-founder of the Rathausverein and Deputy Chairman from 2009 to 2022, initiator and organizer of the Aachen Coronation Banquet from 2003 to 202120.05.2022 Prof. Dr. Walter Eversheim
Spokesman of the Charlemagne Prize Board of Directors 1997-200930.04.2010 Prof. Dr. Burkhard Rauhut
Rector of the Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen from 1999 to 200829.07.2008
Klaus Pavel
President of the Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein ALRV and Honorary Consul of Brazil16.12.2006
District head Herbert Henn
Appreciation for many years of local political activity08.04.2005
Professor Karl Otto Götz
Tribute to the life's work of the renowned artist from Aachen26.08.2000
+ Willy Hünerbein (+ 09.05.2021)
Member of the City Council 1969-199925.03.2000
+ Dr. Hans Stercken (+ 26.06.1999)
In recognition of his services to the city of Aachen04.09.1998
+ Dr. h.c. Egidius Braun (+16.03.2022)
In recognition of his services to the city of Aachen03.06.1998
+ Simon Schlachet (+ 01.12.1997)
In recognition of his services as Chairman of the Jewish Community of Aachen05.05.1996
+ Former Chief City Director Dr. Heiner Berger (+ 02.05.2015)
In recognition of the great services he rendered to the City of Aachen during his many years of service - 20 years as Chief City Director13.10.1995
+ Professor Dr. Waltraut Kruse (+ 27.02.2019)
- Golden badge of honor of the city -
Termination of council activities 1975-1994 / Mayor 1979-198924.03.1995
+ Kurt Malangré (+ 04.10.2018)
Reached the age of 60 / Termination of council activities 1969-1994
Lord Mayor 1973-198901.10.1994
City Director Dr. Manfred Fuchs
In recognition of the great services he has rendered to the city of Aachen during his many years of
service - 30 years as alderman14.09.1990
+ Hermann Kessel (+ 09.04.2000)
Member of the Council from 28.10.56 to 30.09.8915.12.1989
+ Willi Everartz (+ 26.12.2014)
Member of the Council from 09.11.69 to 30.09.8915.12.1989
+ Cathedral Provost Dr. Johann Müllejans (+ 05.08.2009)
- 60 years of age -
Appreciation of his great commitment to the restoration and preservation of Aachen Cathedral, many services in the cultural field - restoration of the Charles Shrine, care of cathedral music17.03.1989
Dr. Helmut Gies
Former Chairman of the Board of Management of AMB, Aachener und Münchener Beteiligungs-AG
- Turning 60 -
In recognition of his great services to the city of Aachen23.01.1989
+ Consul Hugo Cadenbach (+ 29.09.2000)
Reached the age of 70
(honorary citizen from 06.10.1991)02.10.1986
+ Councillor Anton Grunwald (+ 28.03.2008)
End of his many years of service as DGB District Chairman, 1967 to 198429.06.1984
+ Retired mining assessor Albert Vahle (+ 27.06.1987)
Reached the age of 8023.10.1983
+ Prof. Dr. h.c. mult. Irene Ludwig (+ 28.11.2010)
- Golden Badge of Honor of the City -
for her services to museums in the city of Aachen17.06.1977
+ Dr. Anton Kurze (+ 17.06.1986)
Chief city director of Aachen from 1954 to 197529.08.1975
+ Dr. Jost Pfeiffer (+ 14.01.2010)
Member of the city council from 1946 - 1970 and from 1972 - 1975, long-standing CDU parliamentary group leader on the city council
(honorary citizen from 20.01.2001)11.07.1975
+ Hans Wertz (+ 23.05.2012)
City Treasurer of the City of Aachen from 1957 to 1966, Finance Minister of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia from 1966 - 1975, President of the State Central Bank of North Rhine-Westphalia, 1976 - 199011.07.1975
+ Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Peter Ludwig (+ 22.07.1996)
Art collector with great merits as a promoter of art in Aachen, initiator, lender and patron of the Aachen museums
(honorary citizen from 16.04.1994)09.07.1975
+ Alderman Prof. Dr.-Ing. Wilhelm Fischer
Head of Building Department from 1957 - 197529.04.1975
+ Franz-Josef Krehwinkel (+ 09.08.1998)
Member of the City Council from 1946 - 1952 and from 1961 - 197211.10.1972
+ Heinrich Hünerbein
Member of the city council from 1946 - 197211.10.1972