Alex Van Halen Knighted in the Order of the Netherlands Lion in Nijmegen Ceremony

Van Halen drummer Alex Van Halen was officially appointed Knight in the Order of the Netherlands Lion (Ridder in de Orde van de Nederlandse Leeuw) on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, in a ceremony held at the Berchmanianum, at Radboud University in Nijmegen. The honor, the highest civilian decoration in the Netherlands, is given for notable contributions in fields such as the arts, science, sport and literature.

Nijmegen mayor Hubert Bruls presented the royal decoration in person to the 73-year-old musician. Alex Van Halen made the trip from the United States to the Netherlands specifically to accept the honor at the ceremony.

• Alex Van Halen and his younger brother Eddie were born in Amsterdam and grew up in Nijmegen before the family relocated to Pasadena, California, in 1962, when Alex was 9 and Eddie was 6.
• Their father, Jan Van Halen, worked as a professional musician; their mother, Eugenia, was born in Indonesia.
• Alex Van Halen signed Nijmegen’s Book of the City, a ledger reserved for notable guests that has previously included entries from Bruce Springsteen and King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, according to one report.

What Did Alex Van Halen Say About the Honor?

Speaking after the ceremony, Alex Van Halen credited a family member with setting the recognition in motion. “My cousin organized most of this. But I’m very grateful. 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,” he said.

Nijmegen’s Ties to the Van Halen Brothers

Officials in Nijmegen framed the knighthood as recognition of a bond that has endured since the brothers left the Netherlands more than six decades ago. “Alex still feels a connection with Nijmegen, and Nijmegen in turn honours the band,” the city said in a statement announcing the award.

The city has marked that connection before. In 2019, a section of Nijmegen’s Hunnerpark park was temporarily given the name Van Halenplein in tribute to the brothers, and a mural commemorating Eddie Van Halen was unveiled, according to one report.

Alex and Eddie Van Halen’s Musical Legacy

Alex and Eddie Van Halen started a group called Mammoth in 1972 while still teenagers. The act was renamed Van Halen in 1974 once David Lee Roth signed on as frontman, and the lineup was later rounded out by bassist Michael Anthony.

Van Halen went on to become one of the defining rock acts of the 1980s, scoring hits such as “Runnin’ With the Devil,” “Dance the Night Away,” “Hot for Teacher,” “Panama” and “Jump.” The band earned induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007.

More Info

• Van Halen drummer Alex Van Halen knighted in the Netherlands | planetradio.co.uk
• Legendary VAN HALEN Drummer ALEX VAN HALEN Receives Royal Decoration: Knight Of The Order Of The Netherlands Lion | Blabbermouth
• Alex Van Halen Knighted in the Netherlands | vhnd.com
• Alex Van Halen Knighted in the Netherlands, He’s Now the Knight in the Order of the Lion of the Netherlands | rockcelebrities.net
• Alex Van Halen Receives Highest Civilian Knighthood In Netherlands | metalheadzone.com