The 73-year-old drummer was presented with the country’s highest civilian knighthood in his childhood city of Nijmegen.
Van Halen drummer Alex Van Halen received the Knight in the Order of the Lion of the Netherlands decoration on Tuesday in Nijmegen, Netherlands. Mayor Hubert Bruls presented the country’s highest civilian knighthood—which recognizes achievements in the arts, science, sport, and literature—to the 73-year-old musician at Radboud University’s Berchmanianum building. During the ceremony, Van Halen also signed Nijmegen’s Book of the City, joining past signatories such as Bruce Springsteen and King Willem-Alexander.
Born in Amsterdam, Van Halen lived in Nijmegen with his family, including his late brother Eddie, until moving to Pasadena, California, in 1962. The city has maintained ties to the musician and his family, having previously renamed part of Hunnerpark to Van Halenplein in 2019 and unveiling a mural honoring Eddie Van Halen, who passed away in October 2020.
