In 1943, three young Dutch men—Gerrit Henneken (19), his brother Jaap (18), and their friend Dirk Keijzer (19)—became part of the millions of men and women subjected to forced and enslaved labour in Nazi Germany. What followed was a harrowing tale of hardship, endurance, and ultimately, liberation by the American Read more
Still Recovering by Maria H.J. Butler is a poignant and personal memoir that offers a unique insight into the post-war Dutch migrant experience in Australia. The book captures the childhood memories of a Dutch, Catholic, New Australian girl growing up in Queenscliff, Victoria. Maria was born in Gouda, the Netherlands, Read more
The story of Dutch migration to Australia is filled with personal journeys of courage, resilience, and community spirit. Among these is the remarkable life of Henk (Hank) van Iersel, a man who stood against oppression during the dark years of World War II and later sought a new future for Read more
Dutch Odyssey is a collective history of Dutch migration, based on the experiences of families who settled in the South East of South Australia from the late 1940s onwards. The authors spent five years gathering stories from first and second generation migrants and expanded their research by consulting archives to 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
By Wendy Walker-Birckhead This ethnographic study by Wendy Walker-Birckhead explores the lived experiences, health perceptions, and lifestyle practices of older Dutch migrants in Australia. The chapter draws from qualitative interviews with 19 Dutch-Australians—11 first-generation migrants and 8 adult children—to understand how migration, cultural identity, and ageing intersect in later life. Read more