In a story that crosses borders, generations, and identities, Hendrika de Vries embodies the resilience of Dutch migrants who forged new lives in Australia after the Second World War. Her journey—from the trauma of Nazi-occupied Amsterdam to becoming South Australia’s swimming champion in 1955—is a testament to courage, adaptability, and the power of sport in healing the past.
Born in the Netherlands during World War II, Hendrika endured the brutalities of occupation as a young girl. Her father was imprisoned in a POW camp, while her mother joined the Dutch underground resistance. In the chaotic aftermath of the war, her family migrated to Australia, settling in Adelaide, like many other Dutch post-war immigrants looking for a new beginning.
Adapting to a new country, language, and culture was not easy. But in the water, Hendrika found both freedom and belonging. Training relentlessly in the pools of Adelaide, she quickly rose through the ranks of competitive swimming. By 1955, she had earned the title of South Australian Swimming Champion—a remarkable achievement for a teenage migrant girl still coming to terms with her past.
Swimming gave her more than medals. In her own words, it offered a sense of identity and purpose in a world where she was often made to feel like a foreigner. In the pool, she was not “the Dutch girl” but simply a competitor, fast and determined, carving her way forward one lap at a time. Her success helped her push through the lingering traumas of war, the sting of xenophobia, and the limitations imposed on young women in post-war Australian society.
Later in life, Hendrika moved to the United States, where she became a family therapist and writer. Her professional insights and personal reflections are captured in her 2025 memoir, Open Turns: From Dutch Girl to New Australian. The book explores how swimming became her lifeline in post-war Adelaide, and how her early experiences continue to resonate with young women today.
Now in her eighties and based in California, Hendrika continues to speak out against fascism, reflect on the immigrant experience, and write with the clarity of someone who has seen both the darkness and the light. Her story is a valuable addition to the Dutch–Australian heritage, offering a deeply personal window into the journey of resilience that defined so many post-war migrants.
