Alex Van Halen has received one of his native country’s highest honors.
The legendary Van Halen drummer was appointed Knight in the Order of the Netherlands Lion (Ridder in de Orde van de Nederlandse Leeuw) Tuesday in Nijmegen, the Dutch city where Alex and his brother Eddie spent much of their childhood before their family moved to America.
Nijmegen mayor Hubert Bruls presented the 73-year-old drummer with the royal decoration during a ceremony at the Berchmanianum, the academy building of Radboud University. Alex traveled from the United States to the Netherlands especially for the occasion.
The honor recognizes Alex’s remarkable career behind the drums and the impact his playing has had on musicians worldwide. The Order of the Netherlands Lion is one of the country’s most prestigious civilian honors.
After receiving the honor, Alex spoke about what the recognition meant to him.
“My cousin organized most of this. But I’m very grateful,” Alex said. “I think institutions like this are important in people’s lives because it adds a dignity and a gravity to what we do. Whether it’s actually deserved or not, that’s another question. But we can live up to it. That’s the whole thing, is you gotta have something to live up to.”
Alex also signed Nijmegen’s Book of the City, a special book reserved for distinguished visitors to the city. Previous signatories include Bruce Springsteen and King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands.
The ceremony brought Alex back to a place with deep roots in the Van Halen story.
Alex and Eddie were both born in Amsterdam before the Van Halen family moved to Nijmegen when the brothers were very young. Their father, Jan Van Halen, was a professional musician, while their mother, Eugenia, was born in Indonesia. The family lived in Nijmegen until leaving the Netherlands for the United States in 1962, eventually settling in Pasadena, California.
Those childhood years have not been forgotten in Nijmegen.
“Alex still feels a connection with Nijmegen, and Nijmegen in turn honors the band,” the city said in announcing Tuesday’s award.
In 2019, part of Nijmegen’s Hunnerpark was temporarily renamed Van Halenplein in honor of the brothers, and a mural honoring Eddie Van Halen was unveiled in the city.
The city praised Alex’s unmistakable approach to the drums, describing his playing as powerful, dynamic and precise, but always possessing a distinct swing. That combination became a fundamental part of the Van Halen sound throughout the band’s nearly five-decade history.
Alex and Eddie formed the band that would eventually become Van Halen in Southern California. After years of playing clubs and backyard parties, Van Halen released its landmark self-titled debut album in 1978 and went on to become one of the biggest rock bands in the world.
The band’s connection to its native Netherlands remained evident even after its American breakthrough. “Runnin’ With the Devil” became Van Halen’s first entry on the Dutch Top 40 in 1980, reaching the Top 10. Four years later, “Jump” became a worldwide smash.
Golden Earring drummer Cesar Zuiderwijk was also reportedly in attendance Tuesday and praised Alex as an inspiration to countless musicians.
Eddie Anderson, Van Halen’s longtime security guard during the band’s early-’80s heyday, shared news of the honor with fans after hearing directly from Alex.
“This is the highest civil honor bestowed to Alex Van Halen,” Anderson wrote on Facebook. “He just shared this with me and I’m sharing with you.”
Peter van der Heiden also shared a photo with Alex from Nijmegen, writing, “Meeting Alex in Nijmegen for a very special occasion. More to follow!”
It was certainly a special day for Alex, who returned to the city where he and Eddie spent their early childhood years to receive one of the Netherlands’ most prestigious honors.
