In a striking twist of history, the Netherlands and Australia are converging around Indonesia’s deep human past. What began as a late-nineteenth-century Dutch scientific quest in the former Netherlands East Indies is now being reframed through Indonesian custodianship and contemporary Australian research. Anthropology, rather than diplomacy or conflict, has become Read more
The Dutch Shop, ‘t Winkeltje in ‘Holland House’ was founded by Jan and Anita Altena in Smithfield in 1985. Holland House at first it sold only imported Dutch furniture, but soon expanded to a supermarket (‘t Winkeltje), stocking the herring, cheese and liquorice that is signature Dutch fare. Inside, the Read more
The Douglas DC-5 was one of the most unusual transport aircraft to see service during the Second World War. Designed and built in the United States by the Douglas Aircraft Company, it featured a high wing, tricycle undercarriage, and a wide fuselage optimised for passenger transport. These modern features, however, Read more
In November 1942, a rare Dutch (American build) transport aircraft came to rest on an Emergency Landing Ground east of Charleville after a forced landing that ended its flying career. By then, the Douglas DC-5 Wakago had already survived a redirection to the Netherlands Caribbean island of Curacao following the Read more
The newspaper article by Malcolm Quekett explores postwar migration to Western Australia through the history of the Graylands Reception and Training Centre, later known as the Graylands Migrant Hostel, and through the personal experiences of migrants who passed through it. The story brings together Dr Nonja Peters’ research on migration Read more
Post-war Dutch migration to Australia reshaped not only industry and housing but also community life. Football became one of the most effective ways for Dutch migrants to build social networks, maintain cultural continuity, and integrate into Australian society. In Sydney, one of the clubs that emerged from this environment was Read more
In 1596, the first Dutch ships arrived at the islands of the Moluccas (Spice Islands), marking the beginning of trade relations between the Netherlands and the Indonesian archipelago. This was part of the broader European exploration and colonisation wave. The Dutch East India Company, known as the VOC (Vereenigde Oostindische Read more
Introduction The Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme occupies a central place in Australia’s postwar history. Conceived as a nation-building project, it reshaped Australia’s energy and water systems while simultaneously transforming the country’s demographic profile. Between the late 1940s and the 1970s, the Scheme attracted tens of thousands of workers, the majority Read more
Introduction In the decades following the Second World War, Canberra became home to a growing number of Dutch migrants. As in other parts of Australia, football (soccer) played an important role in helping these newcomers build social networks, preserve cultural familiarity and gradually integrate into Australian society. In Canberra, Dutch Read more
This article originally appeared in the Western Independent on 30 October 2025. By Jayde Andrews Many people find it remarkable how my great grandmother survived two Japanese internment camps from 1941-1946 in the Dutch East, the Indonesian revolution and a famine on her way back to Holland in 1946- all Read more