The Four Freedoms Awards are presented annually to individuals from organizations committed to the principles outlined in Franklin D. Roosevelt’s historic speech to Congress on January 6, 1941. The tradition began in 1950 at the Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute in New York and has been held internationally since 1982 in collaboration with the Roosevelt Foundation in Zeeland. The awards are presented in Middelburg and New York in even years.

The Four Freedoms Medals are awarded to individuals, women, and organizations whose achievements demonstrate a commitment to the principles outlined in Roosevelt’s speech. The awards have been awarded to notable world citizens, including Harry S. Truman, H.R.H. Princess Juliana of The Netherlands, John F. Kennedy, Nelson Mandela, J. William Fulbright, Arthur Miller, Jimmy Carter, former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Malala Yousafzai, Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Dr. Angela Merkel.

The Roosevelt Foundation organizes the Four Freedoms Awards every two years in Middelburg, inviting personal representatives to attend. Five international freedom fighters are honored for their efforts to guarantee freedom and defend human rights. The Foundation collaborates with the Province of Zeeland, the Freedom Colleges Foundation, Invitado, the Protocolbureau, Unlimited Productions, Van Maarel Event Styling, Maison van den Boer, and Taste Culinair to organize the awards.