Van Halen drummer Alex Van Halen has been awarded the royal decoration ‘Ridder in de Orde van de Nederlandse Leeuw’ (Knight in the Order of the Lion of the Netherlands), receiving the highest civilian knighthood of the Netherlands in Nijmegen, where he and his brother Edward lived until they moved to Los Angeles in 1962. The news was shared via a video on Facebook.
During the ceremony, Van Halen expressed his gratitude for the honor and reflected on the significance of such institutions.
“My cousin organized most of this. But I’m very grateful,” Alex Van Halen 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.”
He also spoke about the responsibility that comes with receiving such recognition.
“But we can live up to it,” he continued. “That’s the whole thing, is you gotta have something to live up to.”
The honor connects Van Halen’s decades-long career with the Dutch city that played an important role in his early life.
Van Halen was formally appointed Knight in the Order of the Netherlands Lion on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, during a ceremony in Nijmegen.
The ceremony took place at the Berchmanianum, the academy building of Radboud University. Nijmegen Mayor Hubert Bruls presented Van Halen with the royal decoration, recognizing his impressive career as the drummer and one of the central figures of Van Halen.
Van Halen received the honor in the city where he and his brother Eddie spent much of their childhood before their family moved to the United States in 1962.
The connection between Van Halen and Nijmegen remains significant for both the musician and the city. “Alex still feels a connection with Nijmegen, and Nijmegen in turn honors the band,” the city said.
This recognition adds a Dutch chapter to the story of one of rock music’s most influential rhythm sections, honoring Van Halen’s career while celebrating the roots he shares with his late brother Eddie.
