Alex Van Halen receives royal Dutch decoration for outstanding cultural contributions

Alexander Arthur “Alex” Van Halen, the legendary drummer for Van Halen, has received the title of “Ridder in de Orde van de Nederlandse Leeuw” (Knight in the Order of the Lion of the Netherlands), as per Blabbermouth. In Nijmegen, where he and his brother Edward resided until they relocated to Los Angeles in 1962, Alex was awarded the highest civilian knighthood in the Netherlands. The decoration is used to honour achievements in literature, science, the arts, and athletics. Hubert Bruls, the mayor of Nijmegen, elevated the 73-year-old singer to the Order of the Lion of the Netherlands on Tuesday afternoon, September 1, at Radboud University’s academy building, the Berchmanianum.

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. – Alex Van Halen

Additionally, Alex signed a unique book called Nijmegen’s Book of the City, which is only given to notable tourists. Eddie and Alex were born in Amsterdam, and the family soon relocated to Nijmegen. Their mother Eugenia was born in Indonesia, while their father Jan was a musician.

Alex still feels a connection with Nijmegen, and Nijmegen in turn honors the band. – This was stated by the city when it announced his prize.

In 1972, Alex and Eddie (real name Edward Lodewijk Van Halen) started a band called Mammoth. After singer David Lee Roth and bassist Michael Anthony joined, the band changed its name to Van Halen. With successes like “Runnin’ With The Devil,” “Dance The Night Away,” “Hot For Teacher,” “Panama,” and “Jump,” Van Halen was one of the top rock bands in the United States in the 1980s. In 2007, the group—which subsequently included Sammy Hagar on vocals—was admitted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.