Nonja Peters’ comprehensive chapter The Enterprising Dutch analyses the occupational adjustment and entrepreneurial activities of Dutch migrants in Western Australia after World War II, examining their transition from wage labour to self-employment. The study spans three distinct groups: first-generation postwar migrants (1947–1975), their Australian-born or raised children (second generation), and Read more…
By Dr Nonja Peters In Milk and Honey – But No Gold, Dr Nonja Peters provides one of the most comprehensive accounts of postwar migration to Western Australia, with a particular focus on the Dutch and other European migrant communities. Based on archival research, oral history interviews, and personal observation, Read more…
In this 2012 paper published in the AEMI Journal, Dr. Nonja Peters examines the migration experiences of approximately 160,000 Dutch individuals who relocated to Australia following World War II. The study delves into how various factors—local, national, and global influences, as well as social, cultural, and economic policies in both Read more…
Dutch and Australian Government Perspectives on Migration By Joed Elich Introduction: Migration and the Double Perspective Joed Elich’s research takes a rare and crucial “double perspective” approach to Dutch-Australian post-WWII migration, examining not only the policies and motivations of each government but also the lived experiences of Dutch migrants and Read more…
Drawing on the Works of Desmond Cahill and Michael Clyne Introduction and Overview Post-war Dutch migration to Australia has long been perceived as an understated success story — a community that quietly integrated, worked hard, and caused few social ripples. Yet beneath this stereotype lies a more nuanced and layered Read more…
Author: Michael Clyne Introduction: In this seminal article, sociolinguist Michael Clyne investigates the unique trajectory of Dutch language use and decline in Australia, comparing it with other community languages such as Italian, Greek, German, and Vietnamese. His central question: Is the Dutch linguistic experience in Australia an anomaly, or does Read more…
Summary Desmond Cahill’s extensive analysis explores whether Dutch Australians have assimilated into mainstream Australian society or adapted through a more complex, accommodationist process. Drawing on historical, cultural, and statistical perspectives, Cahill challenges the longstanding stereotype of the Dutch as “the perfect migrants” who effortlessly assimilated and vanished into Australian life. Read more…
Robert de Jong was born in the Netherlands and spent most of his life in South Africa before emigrating to Townsville, Queensland, in 2011 to be with family. In 2016, he was appointed Managing Curator of the Maritime Museum of Townsville, a position through which he has highlighted the city’s Read more…
Jan Lingard’s Refugees and Rebels delves into the largely overlooked history of over 5,000 Indonesians—comprising military personnel, merchant sailors, civilians, and political prisoners—who found themselves in Australia during World War II. These individuals were evacuated from the Japanese-occupied Netherlands East Indies and were dispersed across various Australian cities and towns. Read more…
By Gary Bouma Introduction and Summary: Dutch Religious Influences in Australia’s Multicultural LandscapeBased on Gary D. Bouma’s “The Religious Contribution of Dutch Migrants to Multicultural Australia” Dutch post-war migration to Australia is often told in terms of economic resilience, cultural adaptation, or family stories of hardship and hope. But less Read more…