Introduction In 1950, a group of Dutch migrants from Groningen began establishing a settlement at Kingston, south of Hobart, Tasmania. Their undertaking became known as Little Groningen and developed into an important centre of Dutch-Australian religious, educational, commercial and community life. The original group, known as the Groningen Seven (G7), Read more
Jacob Teunis Guijs was born in Sliedrecht on 4 November 1917. He was the youngest son of labourer Arie Guijs and Barbera de Waard. Jacob was among the Dutch workers who travelled to Australia in connection with the post-war dredging project. He left the Netherlands on the KLM flight departing Read more
Dutch soldiers in British service The Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815) created unexpected connections between the Netherlands, Britain and territories across the world. One intriguing but largely unexplored question is whether Dutch soldiers who entered British military service during this period subsequently found their way to colonial Australia. An interesting starting point Read more
Petrus Franciscus Martinus Hendriks was born on 16 May 1914 at a house on Gasthuislaan in Leiden. He was the son of Martinus Hendriks, a copperplate printer, and Anna Oomens. On 3 November 1937, Petrus married Cornelia Godschalk in Leiden. Cornelia was born in Lieshout on 21 December 1917 and Read more
Pieter Willem van der Veer was born in Hellevoetsluis on 11 December 1916. He was the son of Jacob van der Veer (1889–1928), who worked as a blacksmith and pyrotechnician at a shipyard, and Sara Maria Spruijt (1892–1957). Pieter Willem grew up in a large family with five brothers and Read more
Following the Second World War, Dutch migrants arriving in Australia faced the challenge of adapting to an English-speaking society while maintaining their Dutch language and cultural identity. Over time, English increasingly replaced Dutch, not only within families but also in Dutch community organisations. Sacha McPherson, a student at the University Read more
A migration story about hope, establishing a new life and an early farewell in Tasmania In the post-war Netherlands, increasing numbers of people decided to seek their future elsewhere. The Kroon family from The Hague also made this momentous decision. In 1950, they exchanged their familiar surroundings for a future Read more
From wartime Netherlands to post-war migration The story of Cornelis (Cor) and Anna Koopman is an unusual chapter in the history of Dutch migration to Australia. When they emigrated in 1951, they brought not only their three young children and personal possessions, but an entire prefabricated house that Cornelis had Read more
Herman van Tol was born in Delft on 9 May 1899. He was the son of Arie Jacob van Tol, a labourer, and Margaretha Vergragt. On 15 June 1927, Herman married Jacomijntje Kattestraat in Delft. Jacomijntje had been born in Waddinxveen on 20 April 1901 and was the daughter of Read more
Petrus Wilhelmus Alleblas, known as Peter, was born in Naaldwijk in the Westland region of the Netherlands on 27 September 1923. He was the son of Bastianus Alleblas and Hendrika Maria Steentjes. On 22 July 1950, Peter departed from Schiphol aboard the KLM flight carrying Dutch workers and family members Read more