__ van Beethoven
I believe the answer is:
ludwig
<span class="explanation-format__ClueExplanation">'<span class="explanation-format__original">van beethoven</span>' is the definition.<br/ ><span class="explanation-format__explanation">(synonyms)</span><br/ ><br/ >This is the entire clue.<br/ ></span>
(Other definitions for ludwig that I've seen before include "Mad king of Bavaria" , "Great German composer . . . . . . van Beethoven" , "Wagner's kingly patron" , "Mad Bavarian king" , "Presumably a German" .)