“Dutch Migration to Tasmania in 1950: Motivation, Intention and Assimilation” is a thesis by Kees Wierenga, submitted in October 2005 for a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in History at the University of Tasmania. The study delves into the experiences of Dutch migrants who relocated to Tasmania in 1950, focusing on their motivations for emigrating, their intentions upon arrival, and their efforts toward assimilation.
Central to the thesis is an examination of a group referred to as the “Groningen Seven” (G7), comprising seven men from Groningen, Netherlands, along with their families. These individuals were: Barteld Jan Folkerts, Fokke Haan, Eerke Jacob van der Laan, Pieter Laning, Egbert Pinkster, Jan Thomas Steen, and Jan de Vries. Their professions ranged from painters and manufacturers to municipal officials and shopkeepers. The thesis explores their collective and individual reasons for migrating, the expectations they held about their new lives in Tasmania, and the strategies they employed to integrate into Australian society.
The study provides a nuanced understanding of the Dutch migrant experience in mid-20th century Tasmania, shedding light on the broader themes of post-war migration, cultural adaptation, and community formation.
