The Dutch seafarer, Abel Tasman, is recognised as the first European to land, in December 1642, on the island that now bears his name. In the last 50 to 60 years, thousands of Dutch settlers and their descendants have been making a rich contribution to Tasmanian society. Dutch heritage in Read more…
In October 1951 Dirk Bolt migrated from his native Groningen, the Netherlands, to Kingston, Tasmania, Australia, where he married Guusje (Kusha) van der Laan in January 1953. In 1964 they moved to Canberra. From 1971 onward, they moved to various places in response to a series of international appointments Read more…
Below is a short summary by Kees Wierenga of the book by Liz Nickols. Names are in alpha order. Copies of the book are available from liz.nickols@gmail.com. Details noted below, especially regarding who is still alive and or where some people are living, was accurate in 2013. The summary below Read more…
Fair Dinkum Dutch Courage Compiled by Elizabeth Nickols (27 families) Excerpts (and some additional notation by Kees Wierenga)Brandsema, Wilko (Bill) and Hendrikje (Hennie) nee Wind(pp.1 – 9, 20 photos) Wilko was born in 1910 in Stadskanaal, the son of a baker. Hennie was born a year later, her father a Read more…
Shaping Kingston – The story of God’s children in Kingston especially focussing on the Reformed Church – written by Historian Kees Wierenga – $40 plus postage Copies of this book are held by the State Library of Tasmania. Copies may also be obtained from the author, as noted above. The Read more…
7 Mar 1926 – 10Jul 2017 Elly with her brothers Reg and Max In May 1950, a group of 10 men, and their wives, met in the residence of Eerke van der Laan in the city of Groningen. They had met several times before, and during the war years had Read more…