Dutch Culture, Sport, and Religion in Australia
Theo and Eef ten Brummelaar – Helga’s story added
Theo and Eef ten Brummelaar were among the initiators of Dutch Radio in Australia.
Maritime History
Dirk Hartog: the first European to land on Australian soil
Dirk Hartog (1580–1621) was a Dutch sea captain and explorer whose 1616 voyage marked the first recorded European landing on Australia’s western coast. His journey left an enduring legacy in maritime history and Australian heritage. Early life and maritime career Born in Amsterdam and baptised on 30 October 1580, Dirk Read more
Military and Political History
Dutch internees from Japanese camps and POWs received medical recuperation in Australia
There were some of 42 000 Dutch military and naval personnel and 100 000 Dutch civilians who were captured when the Japanese conquered the Netherlands East Indies in early 1942. After the War around 6,000 internees and Dutch POWs who needed immediate medical assistance were brought to Australia where they were allowed to recuperate for between 3 to 6 months, after which they were either repatriated to the Netherlands or went back to Netherlands East Indies.
Aviation and Shipping
SS Volendam – Dutch liner, wartime troopship and emigration ship
The SS Volendam played a pioneering role in post-war Dutch migration to Australia. Originally built for the Holland America Line’s transatlantic passenger service, she survived a torpedo attack during the Second World War, carried more than 100,000 Allied troops and was later adapted to transport emigrants. In January 1949, Volendam Read more
Aviation and Shipping
MS Willem Ruys – Dutch flagship and emigration ship to Australia
The MS Willem Ruys was one of the most important Dutch passenger liners of the post-war period. Originally designed for the service between Rotterdam and the Netherlands East Indies, she became the flagship of the Koninklijke Rotterdamsche Lloyd. From 1959 until 1964, Willem Ruys operated a round-the-world service connecting the Read more
Archive
Dutch immigrant ships to Australia
Redirected to : Dutch emigration ships to Australia – Portal
Migration history
Dutch immigration to Australia, history, stats and other resources
History Already in the 1800 we see Dutch people settling in Australia. A rather famous early immigrant was Willem Hendrik Paling who settled in Sydney in 1853. He established music stores in Sydney and Brisbane, wrote music, was a teacher and a performer. The 1911 census lists only 650 Dutch Read more
Migration history
Adriana Zevenbergen – 100,000th Dutch emigrant to Australia
Adriana Zevenbergen, Australia’s 100,000th Dutch migrant, excited to start unpacking after arriving in Melbourne, 1958. The 50,000th Dutch migrant arrived had arrived in 1954.
Aviation and Shipping
WWI could have seen a different outcome for Australia and Netherlands
After the Franco-Prussian war in 1870/1871 – in which my grandfather fought – two important developments happened: This put Germany right in competition with Britain who was the global superpower of the day. Germany had a great (Prussian) army but didn’t have a strong naval force, rather the opposite of Read more
