In the early days of the Pacific War, one ship with strong Dutch connections played a crucial role in the shifting Allied strategy — the M.S. Bloemfontein. Her journey across the Pacific, her arrival in Brisbane, and her later transformation into a dedicated troopship highlight her remarkable contribution to the Read more…
In the immediate aftermath of World War II, the Netherlands faced a monumental challenge. While its homeland lay in ruins after years of occupation, it also had to grapple with re-establishing authority and humanitarian order in its colony, the Netherlands East Indies (NEI), which had been under brutal Japanese occupation Read more…
During World War II, the SS Tasman, a Dutch steamship operated by the Koninklijke Paketvaart Maatschappij (KPM), became part of an extraordinary Dutch Australian connection. From wartime evacuations and military support to post-war links between the Netherlands East Indies (NEI) and Australia, the Tasman offers a glimpse into a lesser Read more…
Camp Meeandah and the United States Army S.O.S. Depot Located in the Pinkenba riverside area on Brisbane’s north-eastern fringe, Camp Meeandah was established in 1943 as part of the United States Army’s Service of Supply (USASOS) operations under Base Section 3, the logistical arm of General MacArthur’s Southwest Pacific Area Read more…
Even in Brisbane, the global importance of the city’s role during World War II is largely unknown. While many locals are aware of the large American presence, few know that the Dutch also operated from here during the Pacific War. Even fewer in the Netherlands would be aware of the Read more…
Blak Douglas is a Dhungatti man (Mackley Vally) NSW born in.1970 Adam Geczy is an Associated Professor at the Sydney College of the Arts born in 1969 The painting is done with synthetic polymer paint directly on the wall of the Queensland Art Gallery in Brisbane. The painting is a Read more…
Symposium Brisbane@War: Australia, USA, Netherlands, and UK 30-31 August This year marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in the Pacific—an important milestone in global history and in Brisbane’s role as a key Allied headquarters. In commemoration, the Camp Columbia Heritage Association, in partnership with Griffith Read more…
Overview of the Series Title:“Dutch–Australian Connections”]Produced by: Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and Radio NederlandFormat: 8 x 10-minute radio programsYear: c. 1988 Theme: The series traces four centuries (from 1606 till 1988) of Dutch-Australian connections, covering early exploration, wartime alliances, migration stories, and shared cultural developments. The ABC can supply this Read more…
This again presents a story highlighting the integral connections between the Netherlands – Netherlands East Indies (now Indonesia) and Australia. During World War II, the Dutch East Indies became a crucial battleground involving both Dutch and Australian forces. Jaap Bakker, a Dutch KNIL (Royal Netherlands East Indies Army) officer, and Read more…
In 1944, the United States War Department published a small but detailed booklet titled Pocket Guide to the Netherlands East Indies. Produced as part of a broader series of cultural guides for American troops deployed overseas, this 80 pages booklet was designed to familiarise servicemen with the geography, people, customs, Read more…