Tony Franken, born on 11 January 1965 in Perth, Western Australia, stands as one of Australia’s most accomplished goalkeepers — and a proud product of Dutch migrant heritage. Frank Franken His story begins with his father, Frank Franken, born in the Netherlands in 1935. Like many Dutch migrants who arrived Read more…
Rene de Koning is a Dutch-born footballer who made a significant impact on the Western Australian soccer scene as a versatile defender and midfielder. He was born in Nijmegen, 1963 emigrated to Western Australia with his family in 1980 and joined Bayswater as a schoolboy. At 17, he debuted in Read more…
Hendrik “Henk” Beumer (1919–2000) was a pivotal figure in the development of soccer in Western Australia, particularly within the Dutch-Australian community. Born in Haarlem, the Netherlands, Beumer immigrated to Australia in 1950, a period marked by significant Dutch migration seeking new opportunities and contributing to Australia’s multicultural fabric. Founding of Read more…
Chris Wissink is a notable figure in Australian soccer, particularly within the Dutch-Australian community. Born in 1946 in Eindhoven, Netherlands, he emigrated with his family to Australia in 1954 and became a distinguished goalkeeper in Western Australia’s soccer scene. Club Career and Achievements Wissink’s soccer career in Australia was marked Read more…
Johannes (Joh) Oost (1928–2024), born in the Netherlands in 1928, led an extraordinary life that seamlessly blended his Dutch heritage with the adventurous spirit of an Australian migrant. His story is one of resilience, innovation, and enduring contributions to his adopted homeland. A Dutch foundation Born in the village of Read more…
Wim Willems, Institute for Migration and Ethnic Studies, The Netherlands In this chapter, in the book: Europe’s invisible migrants “No Sheltering Sky: Migrant Identities of Dutch Nationals from Indonesia” by Wim Willems, delves into the complex postwar migration and settlement experiences of Dutch nationals from Indonesia, focusing on their journeys Read more…
The diary of G Rhee is quite unique because it was written in 1940. Gerard Rhee was one of the first Dutch migrants to Tasmania. There are interesting glimpses in this diary of a young man who fell in love with a local lass. Apart from notes about his courting, Read more…
Christabel Young’s chapter offers a comprehensive demographic analysis of Dutch migration to Australia, tracing the development of the Netherlands-born population and their Australian-born descendants across several decades. Drawing on census data, birth/death records, immigration statistics, and health studies, Young provides an insightful account of the integration, transformation, and demographic profile Read more…
Introduction: Identity, Visibility, and Community Wim Willems’ chapter explores the neglected story of Dutch Eurasians—people of mixed Dutch and Indonesian descent—who migrated to Australia from the former Dutch East Indies (Indonesia) after World War II. The narrative begins with the landmark 1996 De Andere Nederlanders exhibition at the Dutch Consulate-General Read more…
By Wendy Walker-Birckhead This ethnographic study by Wendy Walker-Birckhead focuses on the migration experiences of Dutch women to Australia during the post-World War II period. Drawing on 48 case studies, it explores how migration has been understood and lived differently by Dutch men and women. While male narratives often frame Read more…