Lia van Haren
Lia van Haren has been a long-standing volunteer at the Dutch Australian Cultural Centre (DACC), beginning her service in 2009. Before this, she had little involvement with Dutch organisations in Australia, having assimilated quickly into the broader community after migrating with her family in the 1950s. Raised in the Manly Warringah area, her family’s Dutch connections centred around occasional community activities such as Mass for Dutch-speaking migrants, the Neerlandia soccer club, and the Dutch Australian Society Neerlandia.
Her later commitment to the DACC reflects both her personal heritage and her growing awareness of the breadth of Dutch societies that had been active in New South Wales. Through her volunteer work, she developed a deeper appreciation for the role these organisations played in supporting migrants, fostering community spirit, and preserving Dutch cultural contributions in Australia.
Lia van Haren’s Archival Work
At the DACC, Lia van Haren undertook the systematic organisation and cataloguing of a wide range of Dutch community records. When she began, the holdings were stored in boxes and largely unprocessed. She committed herself to archiving these collections one organisation at a time, documenting the history of Dutch cultural, social, and charitable life in New South Wales and beyond.
Her work encompassed the archives of:
- The Holland Festival (1982–1998) — documenting volunteer-driven cultural events.
- The Netherlands Society of NSW (1944–1986) — with records on cultural, charitable, and social activities.
- The Federation of Netherlands Societies (1967–2000s) — including initiatives such as aged care projects, receptions for royal visits, and community advocacy.
- NESWA (Netherlands Ex-Servicemen and Women’s Association) — preserving stories of veterans, memorial projects, and ANZAC participation.
- The Queen Wilhelmina Benefit Fund (1903–2000) and Benevolent Trust Fund (1981–2003) — which merged in 2000 to aid Dutch migrants in need.
- The DACC itself — covering exhibitions, publications, newsletters, and educational programs.
She also processed smaller collections such as those from regional Dutch societies, choral groups, publishing initiatives, and personal migrant stories. Through this careful archival work, Lia van Haren safeguarded a rich historical record of Dutch migration, community life, and cultural contributions to Australia, ensuring accessibility for future research and commemoration.
For a full overview see her report below that she presented at the DACC November 2018 AGM when she received the Anton Kool Award.
In her report she also refers to the booklet: Short history of and information on Netherlands Societies in NSW and the ACT.


Here is a full list of the documentation archived by Lia van Haren