The Van Halen drummer received one of the Netherlands’ highest civilian honors during a ceremony in Nijmegen.
Van Halen drummer Alex Van Halen was officially appointed a Knight in the Order of the Netherlands Lion on Tuesday, September 1. Nijmegen Mayor Hubert Bruls presented the 73-year-old musician with the royal decoration during a ceremony at Radboud University’s Berchmanianum academy building in Nijmegen, Netherlands. The civilian honor recognizes exceptional contributions to society across fields including the arts, science, sports, and literature.
Born Alexander Arthur Van Halen in Amsterdam, the drummer lived in Nijmegen with his family and late brother, Eddie Van Halen, before moving to Pasadena, California, in 1962. Following the presentation, Van Halen expressed gratitude for the recognition, acknowledging that his cousin organized much of the event and remarking that such honors give people “something to live up to.”
