For many years it was a forgotten day in the Dutch and Australian history books.This year a few of the survivors of the Japanese attack on Broome harbour revisted Broome for the first time. They came from far to remember that fateful day when 88 people people died in Broome Read more…
The “First Contact Memorial” was unveiled in Mapoon (QLD) on 27 May 2013 by Australian and Dutch officials. It was the first point of contact for Europeans and Aboriginal people in 1606 which ended badly. In three years time (2016) we will be remembering the voyage of Dirk Hartog to Read more…
How much Dutch and Australian history are intertwined is clear from an entertaining interview Peter gave to SBS Radio /Dutch broadcaster Anneke Boudewijn. The third and final installment goes to air Monday 4.4.11. This is a YouTube video. After playing the video, press the return button to go back to Read more…
3 March 1942, the Japanese attack on Broome. 70 years later the WA government, Federal Australian, Dutch and American governments honour the fallen and survivors. SBS Video 7-3-2017 This is a YouTube video. After playing the video, press the return button to go back to the DACC Hub. At the Read more…
Dutch folkdancing teacher Andre van de Plas travels once a year to Australia to teach in all the major cities. In Canberra the class was named in honour of 400 years Dirk Hartog. This is a YouTube video. After playing the video, press the return button to go back to Read more…
Exclusive interview in DUTCH with Dutch PM Mark Rutte recorded November 2104 in Canberra during his 2 day visit to Australia. He talks about a possible royal visit in 2016 to coincide with celebrations to mark the 400th anniversary of Dutch sailor and explorer, Dirk Hartog landing on Australian soil.The Read more…
If a Dutch fort and gallows were the first permanent European structures on Australian soil – why aren’t the Dutch granted a more prominent place in Australia’s history books? Peter FitzSimons’ book ‘Batavia’ is the result of years of research here and in The Netherlands. ‘Batavia’ is now being translated Read more…
This is an interesting Indonesian stamp album. It is commemorating the first anniversary of the Indonesian revolutionaries declaration of independence in 1945 on the 17th of august. The album is more a public relations and propaganda exercise than a philatelic one. There is an interesting angle in that there is Read more…
Dutch-born and UK-raised, 52-year-old Weimar’s professional life has been built on understanding and managing the movement of people and resolving logistical roadblocks. Having spent years as a leading transport planner in Britain – most recently as chief operating officer (policing and enforcement) at Transport for London and chief operating officer Read more…
Most of Dutch history in Australia is linked to its explorers charting the country to the north, west and south. Shipwrecks from the Vereenigde Oost Indische Compagnie (VOC- Dutch East Indie Company) along the West Australian Coast adds another level to the story. The drama of the Batavia is an Read more…