Among the many personal objects preserved in the collection of the Bronbeek Museum is a small Australian Red Ensign carrying a handwritten dedication linked to one of the most significant dates in Australian history: 15 August 1945, Victory in the Pacific Day (VP Day). The flag formed part of the Read more
When people think of the Allied command centres of the Second World War, cities such as London, Washington and perhaps Chongqing come to mind. Yet few realise that for much of the Pacific War, Brisbane became one of the most important Allied capitals in the world. Between 1942 and 1945, Read more
In his forthcoming book Bloedrode dageraad: De Tweede Wereldoorlog en de geboorte van het moderne Azië (Blood Red Dawn: The Second World War and the Birth of Modern Asia), historian Hans van de Ven argues that the Second World War should not only be viewed as a struggle against Nazi Read more
Among the many stories of Dutch–Australian cooperation during the Second World War, few are as moving as the story of an Australian flag presented to Dutch troops in exile. More than a ceremonial gift, the flag symbolised a shared experience of war, defeat, captivity and resilience that connected Australians and Read more
On 12 September 1944, Australian airmen Steve Sykes and Lee Turner returned from a daring attack on German shipping near Den Helder with an unusual souvenir. Embedded in the nose of their Bristol Beaufighter was part of a ship’s mast. During the low-level strike, their aircraft had passed so close Read more
Among the many stories of Dutch–Australian cooperation during the Second World War, some are preserved not in official histories but in photographs and personal collections. A remarkable set of photographs and documents from Melbourne in 1944 records one such occasion: the presentation of an Australian national flag to troops of Read more
This chapter by anthropologist and oral historian Renate Stapelbroek, Met z’n tweeën in een vreemd land (“The two of us in a strange land”) – published in: in Vughtse Historische Reeks (VHR) (Vught 2013) 13, 122-137. – examines postwar migration from the North Brabant town of Vught. While the original Read more
Walter Hes started life in the Netherlands. His Roman Catholic rigid thinking was shaken up by the unfriendly break-up of his first marriage, emigration to controversial South Africa in the 70s having to leave 2 kids to grow up with their mother; 2nd marriage to a protestant, re-emigrating to Brazil Read more
Among the many Dutch migrants who arrived in Australia with little more than determination and ambition, Richard Kuipers represents a remarkable entrepreneurial success story. Originally from the Netherlands, he transformed a modest idea begun in a caravan in his Sydney backyard into one of Australia’s largest removals and relocation businesses. Read more
For many Dutch migrants who came to Australia after World War II, migration was driven by economic opportunity, housing shortages or the search for a better future. For Cees Koeman, however, another powerful force played an important role — adventure. As a boy growing up in a small rural village Read more