Famous Drummers from the Netherlands

List of notable or famous drummers from the Netherlands, with bios and photos, including the top drummers born in the Netherlands and even some popular drummers who immigrated to the Netherlands. If you're trying to find out the names of famous Dutch drummers then this list is the perfect resource for you. These drummers are among the most prominent in their field, and information about each well-known drummer from the Netherlands is included when available.

A list made up of people like Alex Van Halen and Han Bennink.

This historic drummers from the Netherlands list can help answer the questions "Who are some Dutch drummers of note?" and "Who are the most famous drummers from the Netherlands?" These prominent drummers of the Netherlands may or may not be currently alive, but what they all have in common is that they're all respected Dutch drummers.

Use this list of renowned Dutch drummers to discover some new drummers that you aren't familiar with. Don't forget to share this list by clicking one of the social media icons at the top or bottom of the page. {#nodes}
Photo: Freebase / Public domain

  • Alex Van Halen
    Photo: user uploaded image
    Alexander Arthur van Halen (born May 8, 1953 in Amsterdam) is a Dutch American musician who is the drummer and co-founder of the hard rock band Van Halen. The band was formed in 1974 by Alex Van Halen; his younger brother, Eddie Van Halen; David Lee Roth; and Michael Anthony. Warner Brothers signed the band in 1977, and its debut album was released in 1978. Alex and Eddie Van Halen are the only members of Van Halen who have been in the band throughout its existence.
    • Age: 70
    • Birthplace: Amsterdam, Netherlands
  • Chad Butler
    Photo: Metaweb (FB) / Public domain
    Chad Matthew Butler (born 24 March 1974) is the drummer for the band Switchfoot, which he co-founded along with Jon and Tim Foreman in 1996. Butler lived in Amsterdam for a few years, but he and his family later moved to San Diego, California, where he now lives with his wife Tina (whom he married in 1999) and his three children: Evan (born in 2001), Dylan, and Charlotte (born in 2007).
    • Age: 49
    • Birthplace: Amsterdam, Netherlands
  • Dirk Bruinenberg
    Photo: user uploaded image

    Dirk Bruinenberg

    Dirk Bruinenberg (born August 21, 1968 in Nieuwerkerk aan den IJssel) is a Dutch musician known as the former drummer of several European progressive metal and power metal bands, including: Elegy, Ian Parry's Consortium Project and Adagio. He is often recognized for his intricate drumming style and technical double bass patterns. In the late '80s and early '90s, Bruinenberg played with Dutch thrash metal bands Abyss and Vulture. Subsequently, he joined Elegy in 1993, replacing original drummer Ed Warby of Gorefest. He recorded seven albums with Elegy until 2002. The band toured throughout Europe and Japan alongside Stratovarius, Kamelot, Annihilator, Phantom Blue, The Gathering, GorefestĀ ...more
    • Age: 54
    • Birthplace: Nieuwerkerk aan den IJssel, Kingdom of the Netherlands
  • Ed Warby
    Photo: Metaweb (FB) / Public domain
    Edward R. Warby (born 7 March 1968) was born and raised in Rotterdam and is best known as the drummer for Gorefest and Ayreon. He also appeared in the band Agressor in 1982 and joined the Eindhoven-based prog-outfit Elegy in 1987. Warby moved to Gorefest in 1992, where he replaced the former drummer just before the recording sessions of "False", he had to learn all themes and develop his work in just two weeks, which he managed to achieve in a matter so fast that producer Colin Richardson nicknamed him Fast Eddy. After Gorefest split up in 1999, he took part in the re-united Gorefest in 2004.. In 1998, Arjen Anthony Lucassen asked him to perform on his album Into the Electric Castle,Ā ...more
    • Age: 55
    • Birthplace: Rotterdam, Netherlands
  • Han Bennink (born 17 April 1942) is a Dutch jazz drummer and percussionist. On occasion his recordings have featured him playing clarinet, violin, banjo and piano. Though perhaps best known as one of the pivotal figures in early European free jazz and free improvisation, Bennink has worked in essentially every school of jazz, and is described by critic Chris Kelsey as "one of the unfortunately rare musicians whose abilities and interests span jazz's entire spectrum." Known for often injecting slapstick and absurdist humor into his performances, Bennink has had especially fruitful long-term partnerships with pianist Misha Mengelberg and saxophonist Peter Brƶtzmann. Han is a brother ofĀ ...more
    • Age: 81
    • Birthplace: Zaandam, Netherlands
  • Ivar de Graaf (born 20 August 1973) is the founder and drummer of the Dutch progressive metal band Kingfisher Sky, but best known as the former drummer of the popular Dutch rock/metal band Within Temptation.
    • Age: 49
    • Birthplace: Amsterdam, Netherlands