The Dutch Australian Cultural Centre (DACC) is pleased to announce the beginning of a collaborative relationship with the Online Indisch Museum in the Netherlands, creating a new opportunity to strengthen awareness of the shared heritage that connects Indonesia, the Netherlands and Australia.
While the history of the former Dutch East Indies is often viewed through a Dutch or Indonesian lens, Australia also played an important role in this story. During the Second World War, Australia became a place of refuge, administration and military cooperation for thousands of people displaced by the Japanese occupation of the Netherlands East Indies. In the decades that followed, many Indo-Dutch migrants and their families chose Australia as their new home, becoming an important part of Australia’s multicultural society.
Both organisations are committed to preserving and sharing these interconnected histories.
The Indisch Museum focuses on the history, culture and experiences of the Indo-Dutch community and the legacy of the former Netherlands East Indies. The DACC documents and promotes the broader Dutch-Australian experience, including the significant contribution made by Indo-Dutch migrants and their descendants in Australia.
The collaboration recognises that many family stories span all three countries. Wartime evacuation routes, migration journeys, military service, family connections and cultural traditions often link Indonesia, the Netherlands and Australia across several generations.
As a first step, the two organisations will support each other through the sharing and cross-referencing of relevant articles and historical resources. This will allow visitors to both websites to access a wider range of information and gain a deeper understanding of the international dimensions of these shared histories.
The partnership will be particularly valuable in highlighting Australian perspectives that are often less visible in European discussions of Indo-Dutch history. Australia was not merely a destination for post-war migrants. It was also an important wartime centre for the Netherlands East Indies government-in-exile, Dutch military units, merchant marine personnel, refugees and civilian evacuees. These experiences created enduring connections that continue to shape communities today.
A second initiative involves cultural exchange through the arts. The Indisch Museum has extended an invitation to Australian artists whose work reflects Indo-Dutch heritage or explores connections between Indonesia, the Netherlands and Australia. Through digital exhibitions and artist profiles, these artists will have an opportunity to share their work with audiences in the Netherlands and internationally.
Although these first steps are modest, they represent an important beginning. By sharing stories, research, creative work and historical resources, both organisations hope to strengthen understanding of a heritage that transcends national borders.
For the DACC, the collaboration is another opportunity to highlight an important aspect of Australian history: the role Australia has played in the lives of Dutch, Indo-Dutch and Indonesian communities, and the enduring connections that continue to link all three countries.
As the partnership develops, both organisations look forward to exploring further opportunities to document, preserve and promote this unique shared heritage for future generations.
