This year, 2025, marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, a momentous milestone in Australia’s history and the conclusion of the war in the Pacific. Brisbane played a pivotal role as a strategic hub for Allied operations, cementing its place in global wartime history. The Camp Read more…
Beeb Birtles, born Gerard Bertelkamp on November 28, 1948, in Amsterdam, Netherlands, is a celebrated musician, singer, songwriter, and guitarist. As a founding member of iconic bands such as Zoot, Mississippi, and the Little River Band, Birtles has left an indelible mark on the music industry, both in Australia and Read more…
Marike Jager, a renowned Dutch singer-songwriter, embarks on her first Australian tour. Her journey with music began while backpacking through Australia as a teenager, where she learned to play the guitar and gathered experiences that continue to inspire her creative works. Now, 25 years later, Marike returns to Australia as Read more…
Holland Festival Melbourne March 15 Film Premiere: Dutch Immigration Story As part of the Holland Festival, there will also be screenings of the documentary Westlanders in Australia. The documentary tells the story of the Looyen family, who emigrated to Australia, as seen through the eyes of three generations. This “ordinary Dutch Read more…
Clogs and Dutch are ideas that belong together, largely due to the success of marketing by the Dutch Tourism industry. A more or less unique product and a more or less unique people – a marketers dream combination. Reality is quite different. Very few Dutch migrants brought clogs with them, Read more…
Calvin School- the why and the consequences In the 1950s, education of children was the joint responsibility of the State and the local Municipality. The State provided the buildings, the teachers and the curriculum. The Municipal Councillors enforced truancy regulations , and managed requests for absences (because mum was sick Read more…
Are you interested in your Dutch Australian family history? Did your parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents migrate to Australia from the Netherlands? Or maybe you migrated to Australia from the Netherlands yourself and want to research your family history but don’t know where to start? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! Read more…
The new doctor There is a red book. It is one of many books in a series. This one is devoted to the letter ‘S’. There is nothing in it except surnames starting with ‘S’, and the history of these names. Because it is a Dutch book, the name ‘von Read more…
Early Life and Career Jan (John) van Hoboken was born in 1908 in Aalten, Gelderland, Netherlands. He began his career in 1929 when he accepted a position at the Borsumij trading company in the Netherlands East Indies. In 1932, he married while living there. When the Japanese invasion of the Read more…
Source: National Archives of Australia Gerard van Wezel migrated to Australia from the Netherlands in 1952 under an ex-serviceman assisted passage scheme. In January 1958, he began working as a technical officer with the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Authority. During this time, he met fellow Dutch migrant Marretje Ida Sonnenberg, who Read more…