What can we learn from the Van Halen brothers when we are searching for our own place in life? The brothers Eddie and Alex van Halen, who grew up in Nijmegen, left for the US with high expectations, but were soon disappointed. Their story shows how creativity and music can make you resilient and lead to great music. Learn from Americanists Frank Mehring, Peter van der Heiden and Michail Zontos how the music of Van Halen can be a source of inspiration for everyone.
Read the article: Outsiders to Icons: Van Halen Rock Stars and the Challenges of Intercultural Confrontations – Netherlands American Studies Association
Thursday 12 February 2026 | 20.00 – 21.30 hrs | Theaterzaal C, Radboud University | Radboud Reflects, American Studies, RICH & Netherlands American Studies Association. See announcement.
Discrimination in the Netherlands played a central role in the Van Halen family's decision to migrate. But the goal of fleeing racism didn’t quite succeed: segregated schools and housing was the reality they had to face in the US. (Peter van der Heiden)
Eddie (van Halen) felt playing drums was the ideal way to rebel. (Frank Mehring)
Van Halen mixed pop and rock, which made them successful immediately. (Michail Zontos)
What can we learn from the Van Halen brothers when we are searching for our own place in life? The brothers Eddie and Alex van Halen, who grew up in Nijmegen, left for the US with high expectations, but were soon disappointed. Their story shows how creativity and music can make you resilient and lead to great music. Come and learn from Americanists Frank Mehring, Peter van der Heiden and Michail Zontos how the music of Van Halen can be a source of inspiration for everyone. Their short lectures will be interspersed with live music by guitarist Ralph Derksen.
The Van Halen brothers, as children of a Dutch father and an Indonesian mother, faced racism and exclusion in the Netherlands. They left for the US, hoping for the American Dream. But before becoming extremely successful, they had to struggle with discrimination in their new country as well, because they still were perceived as outsiders. Instead of giving up, being an outsider became part of their identity, shaping both their music and their way of life. How might their journey as Dutch immigrants help us better understand the promise, pressures and contradictions of “America”?
Join us and ask your own questions!
The language of discussion is English.
Frank Mehring is a professor of American Studies at Radboud University. His research and teaching focus on 20th and 21st century visual culture and music, theories of popular culture and transatlantic studies. He was one of the organizers of the Van Halen exposition in the Radboud University Library.
Peter van der Heiden is Americanist at Radboud University. He is a specialist in American presidential history, presidential elections and American politics. He was one of the organizers of the Van Halen exposition in the Radboud University Library.
Michail Zontos is an Americanist specialized in American intellectual and cultural history. He has also published on American popular culture. His current research is about American heavy metal music. He was one of the organizers of the Van Halen exposition in the Radboud University Library.
Guitarist Ralph Derksen is known for the Queen Tribute Band Queen Must Go On, with which he won The Tribute: Battle of the Bands on SBS6.
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