He had not been forgotten in the Netherlands .
It was only on his eightieth birthday , in 1949 , that his native country gave him the recognition that he had long desired : he was made an honorary citizen of the City of Roermond .
He had not been forgotten in the Netherlands , but it was only on his eightieth birthday , in 1949 , that his native country gave him the recognition that he had long desired : he was made an honorary citizen of the City of Roermond .