Van der Zouwen is of Dutch and Moluccan descent and grew up in Rozenburg near Rotterdam and attended secondary school in Zuidlaren and Groningen. Because of his successful judo career, he subsequently lived in Haarlem for a while. In 2016, Van der Zouwen participated in the reality program Expeditie Robinson in the 17th season, which he left due to homesickness and not having yet finished his album Crane III. Alex is the father of daughters, Maeve Celine and Marly Chloé van der Zouwen Tiwow.