How did the largest and cultural powerful countries like England, France, and Germany influence the public debates in smaller countries like The Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg? Researchers of Utrecht University, Universität Trier and University College London will answer this question in the HERA research project ‘Asymmetrical Encounters: E-Humanity Approaches to Reference Cultures in Europe, 1815-1992’. This project will explore the cultural aspects of European identity and how the reference cultures have changed between 1815-1992. Project members will use large volumes of textual materials, largely in the form of long runs of digitized newspapers, pamphlets etc., and apply multi-lingual text mining techniques to explore intercultural references across time and space. It will explore case studies such as the public perception of the rapidly growing European metropolis, the spread of the commercial entertainment industry in the form of musicals, football and pop music, and the emergence of new consumer products such as ready-to-wear, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and pilsner beer.