During the Second World War, the Japanese occupation of the Netherlands East Indies (now Indonesia) led to the internment of tens of thousands of Dutch civilians. Among them were Catharinus Lawant, his wife Maria, and their daughter Martina. Their story—documented through personal sketches and migration records—offers a window into a Read more
Charles Olke van der Plas (1891–1977) was a senior Dutch colonial administrator from Buitenzorg (now Bogor), Java. His longstanding service in the Netherlands East Indies (NEI) and his deep knowledge of local society—including fluency in Arabic and Malay and a strong understanding of Islam—marked him as an expert in indigenous Read more
Hubertus Johannes van Mook (1894–1965) was one of the most significant and controversial Dutch administrators of the Second World War and its aftermath. Born in Semarang, Java, Van Mook was part of the Indo-European community of the Netherlands East Indies (NEI), whose families had lived in the archipelago for generations. Read more
This chapter, co-authored by Loretta Baldassar, Raelene Wilding, and Cora Baldock, forms part of a larger Australian Research Council–funded study examining transnational caregiving among migrant families. Focusing on Dutch migrants in Perth, Western Australia, and their ageing parents in the Netherlands, the chapter explores how families maintain emotional bonds and Read more
Kasper Kuiper was born in Groningen in 1938. He has had an extraordinary career in maritime construction and community service, reflecting a lifelong dedication to the Dutch maritime tradition and its contributions to Australia. From large-scale international dredging projects to his leadership in maritime heritage, professional societies, and seafarer welfare, Read more
This compelling first-person account, written by her daughter Claire Smith-Burns, traces the remarkable wartime journey of Anna Wiebrigje Beetstra, a Dutch-Canadian woman who served in the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army (KNIL) during the final years of World War II. Born in Friesland in 1923 and raised in British Columbia, Read more
In October 2024, Dutch journalist and copywriter Jorien Wallast published a groundbreaking work titled Saluut Batavia: Het verhaal van de vrouwelijke KNIL-soldaten (Salute Batavia: The story of the female KNIL soldiers), offering a rare window into a little-known facet of Dutch post-war military history. This non-fiction book explores the experience Read more
In the quiet suburb of Klemzig, just outside of Adelaide, a little slice of the Netherlands is thriving thanks to the passion and heritage of Angela Leaney. Born to Dutch-speaking parents who migrated to Australia in 1956—her father from Tilburg and her mother from Utrecht—Angela grew up in a household Read more
From March 1949 to July 1971, the Smithfield Migrant Hostel (now north Adelaide) served as a temporary home for thousands of new arrivals to Australia. Located between Coventry Road and the Gawler railway line on a former army ordnance depot, the hostel could accommodate up to 300 people at a Read more
The life of Arie Stiermann is a poignant reflection of the upheaval and resilience experienced by many Dutch migrants in the aftermath of World War II. His story spans persecution under Nazi rule, postwar trauma, and the search for a peaceful life in Australia—one marked by both hardship and hope. Read more