The book was published in 1960 by the Emigratie Commissie van het Nederlandse Vrouwen Comité in Den Haag. The book is a collection of 12 stories written by Dutch women who emigrated to different countries, such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa. It was translated into English in 2010 by the Australian National University Press.
Susanna Wijnstra
In the chapter titled ‘’t Is wat je er zelf van maakt’, Susanne Wijnstra writes about her experiences in Australia.
Susanna Jacoba Wijnstra was born in Delft, on February 25, 1925. Her parents were Johannes Wijnstra and Cornelia van der Meulen. She had one sister, Johanna.
She attended primary school in Delft and then went on to study secretarial skills.
In 1947, she married Hendrikus Antonius van der Meulen and had two children, a son and a daughter.
In 1954, the family emigrated to Australia, settling in Melbourne. She was one of the many Dutch women who left their homeland in the postwar years in search of a better life.Susanna worked as a secretary for a number of years. She was a member of the Dutch Reformed Church in Melbourne.
She died on March 15, 2001, at the age of 76.
Chapter on Australia
In her chapter, “It Is What You Make It,” Wijnstra describes her experiences of emigrating and adjusting to life in a new country. She writes about the challenges she faced, such as the language barrier, the loss of her social network, and the loneliness of being in a new place. However, she also writes about the positive aspects of her new life, such as the opportunities she had to learn new things, to make new friends, and to experience a new culture.
Wijnstra’s chapter is a valuable contribution to the literature on immigration. It provides a firsthand account of the challenges and rewards of emigrating, and it offers insights into the experiences of Dutch women who emigrated to Australia in the postwar years.
The chapter by Mrs. Wijnstra is an important part of the book Ons tweede huis. Emigrantenvrouwen schrijven van verre. The book is a valuable resource for anyone interested in the history of immigration, the experiences of immigrants, and the Dutch diaspora. The chapter written by her is on pages 95-101.
