Short biography of Tom Meyer
SHORT BIOGRAPHY OF TOM MEYER
Thomas Hendrik Meijer was born on November 16, 1938 from a Swiss mother and a Dutch father, in Amsterdam, the Dutch capital.
In 1941 the Meijer family managed to get out of occupied Holland and via France, Spain and Cuba reached the West Indies. There, on the islands of Trinidad and Curacao, Tom spent his early childhood and was introduced to his first foreign language, English. (For a long time the only word he knew was “YOU”. This word was used to attract people’s attention, beg for cookies or apologize after running over a duckling with his little red tricycle.)
After the war the family returned to Holland for a short period. Then followed 2½ years in Singapore and in 1948 they settled in the Netherlands once again.
As a pharmacy student Meyer wasn’t very much of a success, mainly (he says) because his heart was with music, theatre and other such affairs. However, the first switch was to study the law instead of pharmacy. Indeed the results there looked a little more promising, not as promising however, as his results in “showâ€â€biz”. There, his success was such that he turned semiâ€â€professional, travelled about for two years, also appearing on radio and television occasionally with a one-man show.
In 1965 he joined Radio Nederland, the Dutch World Broadcasting System, answering an ad for a Dutch language announcer. For this he gave up a job with an international marketing and motivation research centre, for which he had been travelling throughout the world. In the meantime it had been proved that he had a knack for languages, mostly (he says) because he’s not really a human being but a parrot….The fact that Meyer spoke Dutch, English, German and French fluently was one of the reasons for the Radio Nederland management to appoint him successor to Edward Startz, the originator and compére for 41 years of the international “Happy Station Show”. (The typically Dutch vowel “ij” in his last name was changed to a “Y” for international audiences). A language laboratory managed to teach him to speak Spanish fluently in six weeks, enabling him to also present the “Estación de la Alegría”.
Every Sunday Radio Nederland broadcasts his English and Spanish shows during a total of 15 hours to all parts of the globe. His ultimate goal in life is: harmony. Harmony in personâ€â€to person relationships, which – according to him – is the starting point for a greater harmony in world matters. And what better way to achieve this goal than to promote international friendship and understanding through his “Sunday Family Show of Smiles Across the Miles”.
It’s not only ‘KEEPING IN TOUCH WITH THE DUTCH” which he urges you to do, but also  and especially  getting and keeping in touch with each other.
RADIO NEDERLAND, P.O. BOX 222, 1200 JG HILVERSUM, HOLLAND. Tlx 43336,Cables:Mundivox
c_in_b
This brings back memories when I was interviewed by Tom Meyer/Meijer on the Happy Station Show
Tom Meijer
Through a mysterious quirk of fate I ended up here… I am not on facebook, twitter, twatter, twotter, or any other co called “Social Medium”. (I happen to find them all extremely non-social, sorry…) Being the age that I am I wish I could remember your name or the occasion. Once more, “Being the age that I am” I can’t. Can you enlighten me? Eternally thankful, yours truly, ‘little me’, a.k.a.Tom Meijer/Meyer
Ian Chard
Impressed and flattered that you found me! You did actually send me a lovely message a year or two ago, and in the blink of a fat finger I immediately lost it. I used to listen to your show every week and you read my letters a couple of times, but you definitely won’t remember that!
c_in_b
Tom Meijer, nice to hear from you. I am Robert Ruenitz. I called in from Hong Kong one time and later visited Hilversum when I was consulting in Den Bosch for a few months. I look back at those times as magical as I was able to reconnect with friends through your show. My nom-de-net now is C_in_B. It used to stand for “chained in basement” (writing t finish a masters degree) to Capo in B (caffè macchiato in bicchiere) of Trieste.
Cheers and all the best.
Jeff Erickson
Your post brings back many memories. I listened to Happy Station for many years and recall the Easter egg hunts, shows broadcast from studio 13? (Hotel), a hot air balloon and other locations. The phone ins from listeners around the world. I would listen late afternoons in South Australia to a Bonaire live transmission . I phoned Happy Station several times and flew 500 miles to have lunch with you in Melbourne Australia when you visited. Thanks for all the happiness you brought to your vast audience.
danmac2760
Tom, it is so nice to here you again. I listened to your show since 1970’s and til the 80’s-90’s. I remember you had your dog(Sorry I can’t remember your dogs name but it was a blast back in the 70’s( where did time go?) it seems only yesterday that i listened to you. What every happen to girtzy ( sorry don’t the correct spelling)? is there away to stay in contact with you or maybe not.. You use to read my letters and what a big kick that was for me.-Dan
Jerry Haider
The dog was “Larry” (a Great Dane). I listened in Mandan, N.Dak. and after I got older I traveled through Manitoba in Canada and the state of Chihuahua in Mexico and though much of Central and South America. I normally had a transistorized radio with me to listen to AM / FM / SW. I always stayed informed and also entertained whenever I wanted to, where ever I traveled to. It would sure be great to return back to those days of yesteryear.
José Luis Maldonado
Señor Tom Meyer, siendo estudiante de la UNAM, lo escuchaba en onda corta desde el Distrito Federal, México en 1973, en ocasiones ponÃa música de marimba, un abrazo desde Chiapas.
Hoy en dÃa se le puede escuchar en algún medio de difusión?
Vimal Parmar
Wow… So nice to find you, Tom. Thanx for the amazing programme you hosted. I was in college those days and a big fan of yours. Going through an old album I just found your photograph… brought back fond memories. Hope you are keeping fine. Take care… And yes, would love to hear your voice again !
Jacqueline Masek
Well after all these years, it is so nice to see comments about one of my favorite programs i listened to on Sunday nights with great enthusiasm. Tom Meyer and Happy Station was a personal inspiration to me. Radio Nederland was one of my favorite stations to listen to. I forgot about watching local TV and listening to radio programs. It was Radio Nederland and all the great programming they had in the 1970’s.Its programs like Happy Station, Dody and Jerry Cowan and DX Jukebox that could never ever be reproduced by anyone nowadays. These were originals and those that hosted them were just as special. Thank you for those years
M.R.SURESH
My happiest memories were of listening every sunday night I think it was 9.30 pm, to RN news and especially/ HAPPY STATION/ TOM MEYER in the 1970’s. The show would always be the last item on my listening program. I used to correspnd once in a way with RN Hilversum, Tom even sent me what appeared to be fiber EP record, a novelty those days, as well as a group snapshot of his colleagues like Gertie, Bertha etc. I cherished the interaction. TOM MEYER had indicated in his show of an official journey to Bombay in his show. I live deep down in Bangalore, Southern India.
julie r in nebraska
Fascinating finding this on the internet. During my introverted teen years I listened and couldn’t wait for another Sunday Happy Station show. I wrote and got a wonderful reply back from Tom, the entire listening experience helped me throughout my late teen years in the 80’s and I fondly look back. I didn’t know Radio Nederland ended. Was hoping Tom was still out there broadcasting somewhere over the internet. Best Wishes and Fond Memories.!
oag2013wp
Trying to reach Tom Meijer. I have original sound track of studio album recorded for World Productions (Fred Breed) in the 1980’s. Need to know if any interest. Reggie Oglesby contact@oagllc.net
mully1
I used to listen to Happy Station as a young lad in the late 80’s and early 90’s. I really do miss those pre-social media days when the SW radio was the window to the world.
Domingo Deras Torres
Tom Meyer: Te saludo con el aprecio y respeto que te tengo, me hiciste pasar momentos intensamente felices escuchando tu programa radiofónico en La Estación de la Alegría, los domingos, desde Hilversum, Holanda. Inolvidable época en que disfruté las ondas trasatlánticas de una radio amena y cultural. Tiempos que no volverán y que recuerdo con emoción y nostalgia. Te saludo con afecto desde Torreón, Coahuila, Mexico. Domingo Deras Torres
Doreen Gibson
HELLO TOM MEIJER. As a child I use to listen to your radio show every Sunday night. I must have been 14-15 years. In those days my dad had a large radio that could catch various stations around the world.
My dad would listen to American basebql games on American armed forces radio n we would catch the V.O.A. and I think radio Havana in Cuba. Sunday nights I would search for HAPPY STATION..
I would feel so glad when I heard the tinkling bells of Happy Station.
When our radio went bad my dad took it to a repair man who said it was beyond d repair. I always wondered why it was not returned since they could not fix it. The radios we get nowadays can only catch FM and AM .
I would like so much to contact Mr. Tom MEIJER. Thank you for those hours of happiness I enjoyed listening to you playing the song requests of so many people from various parts of the world. In your own way you contributed to world Peace. It felt good to hear people from other parts of the world writing you and you reading their letters. I myself wrote in a few times and was glad to get your response.
May God continue to bless you Mr. Tom Meijer.
D. Gibson, po box 1431, Belize City, BELIZE.c.a.
Ian Watson
How nice to find this blog on the net.
Julie, Doreen, Mully, interesting to read your comments as I was in exactly the same position, also a teen, listening in the late 70’s.
I couldn’t wait for the program to come on and was always so interested to hear Tom read out all the letters he received from around the world.
I had travelled to visit my family in holland in 1974 and hence was really happy to have this connection to Holland when I returned home.
As Mully says, the pre-social media days !!
Tom, you really did make my Sunday evenings, and am happy to report that I also received a reply from you when writing.
Happy days.
Tom, I do hope you are well and thank you once again.
Ian Watson, South Africa.
Jairo Castillo
Dear Mr. Meyer. It´s always a pleasure to find that your work as a conductor of “La Estacion de la Alegria” our sunday´s most favorite program. I started once when I was 12 years old in my home of San Cristobal, Venezuela. where curiosly I looked on my mother´s old short wave Hallicrafter´s radio and once placed on 25 mts band. The begining of my understanding of what is the Dx world, I wrotte letters for the first time of my life and received so many post cards and friends from all around the world. Thanks for your “well donde work”. I hope you are doing fine wherever you are.Jairo Castillo, Maturin. Venezuela.
Tulio Pita Chavarry
Dear Tom:
Merry Christmas and happy new year 2021!
My name is Tulio Pita, and I´m one fan yours since “Musicalmente Suyo of Radio Netherlands” radio program , I was stuying at the university when I listened the good style and the excellent kind of music that you manage like discjokey. I´m so happy to find you, because I wanted to thanks all you learned to me trough new sounds by singers, bands and orchestras. I hope we can be in touch, and I want to wish you the best for 2021!! Thanks for “Musicalmente Suyo” and thanks to Nedherland Radio and its good quality! Lima, Perú.
Jeff May
I have been working on restoring an 80+ year old short-wave radio that was given to me as a teenager by a family friend in the early 1970s. It has been bringing back memories of listening to Tom and Happy Station every Sunday night on that radio, typically via the Bonaire relay on 25m. Tom’s program was one of the highlights of my week. It’s hard to imagine that was 50 years ago.
dcsurfergirl
Somehow I ended up here while looking at old shortwave paperwork. I remember this one! Thanks. I needed that. I just did.
Nadya Hansrn
Dear Tom my name is Nadya and I am the daughter of Tony Parnis whom you had met several times in Malta. I have found many photos of you with my father and have even your authograph. My father has passed away four years ago at the age of 84. Before that he compiled a kind of folder with all the celebrities he had met and you are in it. If you would like to see these photos I can scan them and send them to you. Kind regards Nadya