Maassen van den Brink received the royal honour from the mayor of Castricum, Toon Mans. 'Your research and recommendations, your administrative activities, and your role in the public debate have been very valuable for society', said Mans during the ceremony.

An important theme throughout professor Maassen van den Brink's career was compiling the best available scientific evidence that could be used for as input for education policy and in practice. A few of the many highlights in her career include efforts to arrange literacy courses for residents of Amsterdam, and groundbreaking research on childcare facilities and the position of women in the labour force. Maassen van den Brink taught Economics at the University of Amsterdam and Maastricht University. She also supervised students and PhD candidates at these institutions.
More information (in Dutch) about Henriëtte Maassen van den Brink's activities and the award ceremony can be found in an article published in the Castricums Dagblad.