In 1705, the Dutch East India Company (VOC) launched an exploratory expedition to the Tiwi Islands, north of Arnhem Land in what is now the Northern Territory of Australia. The expedition, led by Commander Maerten van Delft, was one of several early attempts by the Dutch to chart the coastline Read more
Conrad Emil Lambert Helfrich (1886–1962) was a senior officer in the Royal Netherlands Navy and one of the Netherlands’ most prominent military leaders during the Second World War. Born in Semarang, Java, he spent much of his career in the Netherlands East Indies (NEI), becoming known for his strong leadership Read more
Early life and education in the Netherlands Professor Richard de Grijs was born in Amsterdam and grew up mainly in Friesland, living from the age of eight in Wolvega. He was the first in his family to attend university, pursuing a path that would eventually take him across four continents. Read more
In the remote coastal town of Broome, Western Australia, a remarkable story of quiet heroism unfolded during one of the darkest moments of World War II. Lieutenant David Llewellyn “Bo” Davis, a retired pearler turned naval officer, played a vital role in saving lives and coordinating aid during the Japanese Read more
In the wake of the Japanese occupation of the Netherlands East Indies (NEI) in early 1942, Australia became a crucial sanctuary and staging ground for Dutch military forces regrouping in exile. Among the lesser-known but strategically important locations was Darley Camp, situated in Bacchus Marsh, Victoria, just west of Melbourne. Read more
A large part of the KNIL was captured in Java, but several senior officers, support staff, and special units made it to Australia. Others remained behind to continue guerrilla operations, notably in Timor and Dutch New Guinea. This article doesn’t pretend to name all the Dutch and NEI people who Read more
When the Netherlands East Indies (NEI) fell to Japan in early 1942, the Dutch government-in-exile undertook to restore its military capability. Among the most significant efforts was the formation of the Mariniersbrigade, an amphibious infantry brigade trained in the United States under joint Dutch–American oversight. Though far from the Pacific Read more
In May 1942, the Allied war effort in the Pacific reached a critical turning point. The fall of the Netherlands East Indies (NEI) had left Australia exposed, and Japanese forces were advancing toward Port Moresby. In this tense context, a unique and largely forgotten military operation unfolded: Convoy ZK8, an Read more
In early 1942, as Japanese forces overran the Netherlands East Indies (NEI), Dutch authorities faced the urgent task of preserving their financial and sovereign assets. Among the most critical was the colony’s reserve of gold bullion—essential not just for wartime logistics, but for sustaining the legitimacy of the Dutch government-in-exile Read more
On 16 February 1943, at the height of the Second World War, the Dutch government-in-exile formally recognised the bravery of Quartermaster Pieter de Bruin with the Dutch Cross of Merit. The award was presented in Australia by Baron François Cornelis van Aerssen Beijeren van Voshol, the first accredited Dutch envoy Read more