Aviation and Shipping
The Dutch at Archerfield Airport, Brisbane
Australian and Dutch history meet at Archerfield Airport in Brisbane. During WWII this airfield played a critical role for the Dutch military who, after the Japanese armed forces occupied the Dutch colony of Netherlands East Indies (now Indonesia) to neighboring Australia. Over 20.000 people from NEI evacuated to Australia. Poor Read more…
Migration history
50 Anniversary of the liberation of Netherlands East Indies
In 1995 the Dutch Australian Cultural Centre organised a 50 year liberation in the Dutch East Indies commemoration at their premises in the Abel Tasman Village (ATV) at Chester Hill. Several weeks later the DAW published a double page spread review of several commemorations around the country including the one Read more…
Religious Activities
The Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters in Brisbane
In the late 1800’s, there was growing interest among Catholic women to become more involved in overseas missionary work. This was linked to the rapid colonisation occurring among European countries. In many places, woman and children in particular had no status, and thus no opportunities to develop the quality of Read more…
Dutch businesses in Australia
Dutch-Australia Smart City Summit – Royal Visit 2016
At the Dutch Australian Smart City Summit that took place on November 3, 2016 in Sydney, during the Royal visit of King Willem Alecander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands. Five Australian smart city organisations have received the Golden Ratio statue in recognition for their future collaboration with the Global Read more…
Cultural Events and Activities
Dutch Royal visit to Australia – 2006
In late October 2006, Dutch Crown Prince Willem Alexander of Orange and his wife, Her Royal Highness Princess Maxima, paid an official visit to Australia, to bring to a close the events commemorating the of 400-year-old friendship between the two countries. With my Dutch heritage and my interest in the Read more…
Maritime History
British expansion in Australia threatened Dutch ports in the East Indies.
At the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, Britain together with its other allies defeated France. After the victory Britain went on for another 100 years of being the global superpower. However, during that period it remained very fearful of France and a range of minor wars were fought during the Read more…
Dutch – Australian History
Prince of Orange honoured in Orange
The City of Oange , NSW When we arrived in Australia in 1983 I was aware that there was a Dutch connection with the city of Orange (named by the Surveyor General Thomas Mitchell after his friend the Prince of Orange). However, apart from the interested history buffs, very few Read more…
Dutch – Australian History
Dutch Merino Sheep played a key role in Australia’s wool history
Australia was so successful in producing some of the best wool in the world that for more than a century (1820s-1960s) its economy was highly depending on wool. If wool prices fell Australia went into recession. The notion of Australian prosperity is often expressed as ‘riding on the sheep’s back’. Read more…
Archive
Dutch Australian History – Dutch East Indies and WWII
This essay will discuss historical events during and shortly after WWII that brought Australia, the Netherlands and the emerging country of Indonesia together in a complex and often messy set of international affairs.