Kasteel Batavia stood as the administrative heart of the Dutch East Indies, begun in 1619 under Jan Pieterszoon Coen. The rectangular fortress, built on the western bank of the Groote Rivier (now Kali Besar), featured four bastions—Amsterdam, Zeelandia, Hollandia and Westfriesland—connected by thick walls enclosing offices, warehouses, and the Governor-General’s Read more
The story of Dutch New Guinea in the 1950s is often told through the lens of Dutch colonial policy and the role of European missions. Less well known is the presence of small Australian evangelical societies. One of these was the Regions Beyond Missionary Union (RBMU), whose station at Wolo 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
The Barnard Family with Dutch Heritage in New South Wales By Hans Barnard Many in Australia, or indeed South Africa and the United States, that carry the family name “Barnard” are descendants of immigrants from England, where this surname is relatively common. In Australia, however, there are a few Barnards Read more
Frank Zindler is a Dutch migrant and artist who is primarily known for having married Maria (Ria) Scholte, the 50,000th Dutch migrant to Australia. Early years in Indonesia and Australia Frank was born in Java in the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia) on 20 May 1932. He grew up in Read more
In 1954 Maria Agnes Scholte (known as Ria) became the 50,000 Dutch person to migrate to Australia. Scholte was born in Amsterdam in the early 1930s and worked as a hairdresser prior to emigrating. She was twenty years old when she left the Netherlands for Australia. Emigration Ria departed from Read more
Nando Boers’ second novel Breng me thuis (‘Take me home’, 2020) tells the story of a Dutch family that moves to Australia in the 1990s but struggles to reconcile with this country as their new home. A young Dutch couple, Hector and Anna, turn to Australia as a place to Read more
Liefs van je Leen (loosely translated: ‘With love, your Leen’) is a Dutch-language historical romance novel written by Hilde Veeren. Published in 2025, the novel is based on the true story of Veeren’s grandparents. Liefs van je Leen begins in 1939 on the island of Celebes in the colonial Dutch Read more
The World Solar Challenge is a biannual race in outback Australia that aims to promote the development of solar-powered vehicles. The Challenge was first held in 1987 and draws teams from all over the world, including the Netherlands. About the World Solar Challenge Participants in the World Solar Challenge (teams Read more
Sara’s Walkabout (2020) by Inez van Loon is a Dutch-language historical fiction novel for young adults. It tells the story of Sara, a thirteen year old Dutch girl who emigrates from the Netherlands to Australia by sea with her parents and younger brother in 1959. Unlike her younger brother, who Read more