Golden Earring legend’s guitar auction raises over €57,000 for ALS charity

The acoustic guitar of George Kooymans fetched 28,000 euros at auction, according to the Stichting ALS Nederland. The online auction raised a total of more than 57,000 euros, all of which will go toward research on ALS, the fatal nerve and muscle disease that took the life of the Golden Earring singer and guitarist last year.

Kooymans died of ALS in July 2025 at 77. A central figure in Dutch rock, he penned classics such as Twilight Zone and Radar Love. His passing effectively brought an end to the band’s active career.

Limore Noach, director of the Stichting ALS Nederland, expressed admiration for the response: “We are amazed by how engaged everyone was in this auction. Participants didn’t just win a special keepsake from Golden Earring; they are helping make a future without ALS possible.” The auction ran from mid-January and concluded Sunday afternoon.

Alongside the Taylor guitar of George Kooymans, the auction featured signed drumsticks and painted drumheads by his bandmate Cesar Zuiderwijk. Bidders also had the chance to acquire the shirts Zuiderwijk wore during the January farewell shows.

The acoustic Taylor guitar sold at auction is considered a slice of Dutch music history. George Kooymans played it during the recording of the iconic 1992 unplugged album The Naked Truth. Captured at Café De Kroon in Amsterdam, the album marked a turning point for Golden Earring, leading to a hugely successful run of acoustic theater tours.

The owners of the former The Hague guitar store Casa Benelly put the guitar up for auction. George Kooymans and Barry Hay had originally purchased it there. After many years on tour, the guitar returned to the shop, hanging in the private collection for a long time before it was donated to support the charity auction.

While the acoustic Taylor guitar of George Kooymans brought in the most money, other standout lots helped push the total past 57,000 euros. Among them was a set of four 3D pixel portraits of all the band members by artist Johan Pluister, sold for 12,500 euros. Additional pieces of art, including a portrait of Barry Hay with singer Brenda Lee, as well as signed memorabilia, were also sold at the auction.