Maritime History
Honouring the forgotten: Abraham Crijnssen and its role in Allied naval operations from Brisbane.
The HNLMS Abraham Crijnssen, a Dutch minesweeper famed for its remarkable escape from the Japanese-occupied Netherlands East Indies by disguising itself as a tropical island, reached Australia in March 1942. After a refit and the installation of new ASDIC equipment, the vessel was commissioned into the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) as HMAS Abraham Read more…
Cultural Events and Activities
Brisbane@War: Australia, USA, Netherlands, and UK – Marking the 80th anniversary of WWII’s end with a symposium and tours
This year, 2025, marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, a momentous milestone in Australia’s history and the conclusion of the war in the Pacific. Brisbane played a pivotal role as a strategic hub for Allied operations, cementing its place in global wartime history. The Camp Read more…
Art, Music, Film, Theatre
Marike Jager in Australia tour – 2025
Marike Jager, a renowned Dutch singer-songwriter, embarks on her first Australian tour. Her journey with music began while backpacking through Australia as a teenager, where she learned to play the guitar and gathered experiences that continue to inspire her creative works. Now, 25 years later, Marike returns to Australia as Read more…
Migration history
Dutch-born Ferdinand von Sommer left a trail of controversy across colonial Australia
Republished with permission. Original article was published in the Conversation on January 3, 2025 Author:Alexandra LudewigProfessor and Head of the School of Humanities, The University of Western Australia Disclosure statementAlexandra Ludewig does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit Read more…
Literature
No Sheltering Sky: Migrant Identities of Dutch Nationals from Indonesia
Wim Willems, Institute for Migration and Ethnic Studies, The Netherlands In this chapter, in the book: Europe’s invisible migrants “No Sheltering Sky: Migrant Identities of Dutch Nationals from Indonesia” by Wim Willems, delves into the complex postwar migration and settlement experiences of Dutch nationals from Indonesia, focusing on their journeys Read more…
Migration history
Alexander Jan Reitsma: Dutch economist and global academic influence
Read his full Wikipedia article here. Alexander Jan Reitsma (1919-1982) was a distinguished Dutch economist whose career bridged three continents, making significant contributions to the fields of international economics and trade policy. Born in Dordrecht, the Netherlands, he began his academic journey at the Netherlands University for Economics, earning advanced Read more…
Art, Music, Film, Theatre
Premiere of a Pierre’s Mill Documentary on the emigration journey of the Looyen Family Melbourne, Brisbane
Holland Festival Melbourne March 15 Film Premiere: Dutch Immigration Story As part of the Holland Festival, there will also be screenings of the documentary Westlanders in Australia. The documentary tells the story of the Looyen family, who emigrated to Australia, as seen through the eyes of three generations. This “ordinary Dutch Read more…
Military and Political History
Dutch names at the National Australia Remembers Freedom Wall Brisbane
The National Australia Remembers Freedom Wall commemorates the “sacrifice of a generation” that have resulted in 50 years of peace in the Pacific since World War Two, and honours the servicemen and servicewomen who died in service or were killed in action, and also those who brought freedom to Australia, including workers Read more…
Military and Political History
The secret and dangerous operations of Australia’s and the Netherlands’ Pacific War flying boat crews
The Pacific War during World War II saw countless daring operations carried out by Allied forces, often in extreme secrecy. Among these, the contributions of Australia’s RAAF Catalina crews and their Dutch counterparts from the Marine Luchtvaartdienst (MLD) stand out as critical yet often overlooked components of the broader Allied Read more…