Alex Van Halen has been knighted as a member of the Order of the Netherlands Lion, the highest civilian honour available in the Netherlands to its own citizens.
The order recognises excellence across the sciences, sports and the arts, which puts a hard rock drummer in the same register as scientists and athletes rather than in a music-industry prize category.
The ceremony took place in Nijmegen, where Alex and his brother Eddie Van Halen grew up before the family moved to Los Angeles in 1962. Afterwards he signed the Book of the City, the register the municipality keeps for notable visitors.
"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 at the ceremony, adding that whether it is deserved is another question and that the point is having something to live up to. He also credited a cousin with organising most of it.
The city framed the honour around the drumming rather than the band's record sales, saying his style is recognisable and has been inspiring musicians for generations, and noting that he still feels a connection to Nijmegen.
He is currently working with Steve Lukather on finishing the last Van Halen recordings made before Eddie's death, with no timetable announced for that project. The honour lands among the other rock recognitions tracked on award watch.
The facts
- Alex Van Halen was made a Knight in the Order of the Netherlands Lion
- It is the highest civilian honour available to Dutch citizens
- The ceremony was held in Nijmegen, his childhood city
- He signed the city's Book of the City afterwards
- The Van Halen family moved to Los Angeles in 1962
- He is finishing final Van Halen recordings with Steve Lukather
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