Dutch migrants Annie and Peter Rijs founded Australian food company Patties Foods. Anna Maria (Annie) Rijs, née Vogels, was born in Haarlem on 15 August 1921. She was the youngest of three children, with older siblings Jan and Corrie. The family later moved to Amersfoort where Annie attended school. Piet Read more
Boesidien, Samanuddin and Abdole Hamid were members of the Netherlands Merchant Navy during World War II and are interred at Toowong Cemetery in Brisbane. Their service highlights the significant role of Dutch merchant vessels in the Allied efforts in the Pacific. Boesidien (1909–1942) Netherlands Merchant Navy – Crew member, MaetsuyckerBuried Read more
In the 1950s, air travel played an important role in linking the two halves of New Guinea, one administered by the Netherlands and the other by Australia. Although most airline services stayed within their own territories, there were a few notable cross-border connections. One involved the Australian bush company Gibbes Read more
For many Australians with Dutch heritage, learning the language can be a meaningful way to connect with family roots and cultural traditions. Based in Canberra, Dutch language learners have the opportunity to join courses online at Access Art Academy, a mother-and-daughter team of Marion Verbruggen and Marianne Mettes. A Passion Read more
This document contains the catalogue items associated with Dr Nonja Peters from the State Library of Western Australia (SLWA). Below the pdf is a searchable list of titles, interviewees/subjects, and years to make it easier for search engines to find names and titles. A more readable full catalogue see the Read more
Charleville, in western Queensland, is often remembered for its role as a major American base during the Second World War. Less well known is the town’s connection to the Netherlands East Indies (NEI) through the Dutch airline KNILM (Koninklijke Nederlandsch-Indische Luchtvaart Maatschappij). For a brief but critical period before and Read more
The American-British-Dutch-Australian Command (ABDACOM) was the short-lived Allied supreme command for the South-East Asian theatre in the opening months of the Pacific War. Formed at Bandung, Java, on 10 January 1942 and led by British General Sir Archibald Wavell, it became operational only days after Japan entered the war. Its Read more
In early 1942, as Japanese forces overran the Netherlands East Indies (NEI), Dutch authorities faced the urgent task of preserving their financial and sovereign assets. Among the most critical was the colony’s reserve of gold bullion—essential not just for wartime logistics, but for sustaining the legitimacy of the Dutch government-in-exile 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
Haskoning, part of the Dutch-based Haskoning group, is a globally recognised engineering and project management consultancy with over 140 years of experience. In Australia, Haskoning has established itself, since 2011, as a key player in maritime, water, coastal and environmental infrastructure—applying Dutch water management expertise to local conditions across the Read more