Drummer Alex van Halen given knighthood in home city of Nijmegen

Alex van Halen, one of two Dutch brothers who founded the US rock band Van Halen, has been given one of the Netherlands’ highest civil honours.

The 73-year-old drummer was made a knight in the Order of the Netherlands Lion after being nominated by his home city of Nijmegen.

The city said it had recognised Van Halen for his distinctive drumming style, calling it “powerful, dynamic and precise.”

Van Halen, who flew from the United States to receive the honour at a ceremony in from the mayor of Nijmegen, Hubert Bruls, said he was “very grateful”. He also signed the book of the city.

“I think institutions like this are important in people’s lives because it adds a dignity and a gravity to what we do,” he said.

“Whether it’s actually deserved or not, that’s another question. But we can live up to it.”

Nijmegen to Pasadena

Alex and his younger brother Eddie started the band in 1970, eight years after the family moved from Nijmegen to Pasadena in the United States.

Their best-known hits were Jump and Runnin with the Devil, distinguished by Eddie van Halen’s virtuoso performances on guitar.

Originally Eddie wanted to be a drummer while Alex played guitar, but the brothers swapped roles by the time they formed their first band in school, The Broken Combs. They were also classically trained pianists.

In 2019 part of the Hunnerpark was temporarily renamed Van Halenplein and a mural was painted in honour of Eddie van Halen.

The band Van Halen stayed together until Eddie’s death in 2020 at the age of 65.