Dirk van der Veeke was born in Werkendam on 2 February 1916. He was the son of Adriaan van der Veeke, a skipper and sailor, and Pieternella Johanna Cornelia Roest. Dirk grew up in a region where life was closely Read more
Dutch migrants help shape a growing coastal community In the years following the Second World War, thousands of Dutch migrants arrived in Australia in search of new opportunities. Many brought skills in engineering, construction, manufacturing and agriculture, while others came Read more
Mattheus Jacob Bons, known as Theo, was born in Sliedrecht on 2 October 1920. He was the son of Pieter Cornelis Bons, a contractor and dredgemaster, and Antje Francijna de Haan. On 24 May 1949, Theo married Martina Meinsje Smits Read more
Teunis “Teun” van Genderen was born in Sliedrecht on 25 January 1918. He was the son of Teunis van Genderen and Johanna Nederlof. His father died in Lüneburg, Germany, on 17 May 1945, shortly after the liberation, and is remembered Read more
Pieter “Piet” van Wijngaarden was born in Sliedrecht on 24 September 1922. He was the son of Marinus van Wijngaarden, an engineer, and Antje Visser. Pieter became an assistant dredgemaster and worked in tin dredging for the NV Billiton Maatschappij. Read more
Bernardus Johannes Meertens was born in Kruiningen, Zeeland, on 29 April 1920. He was the son of Leendert Jacobus Meertens and Geertruid Elsman. On 22 June 1950, Bernardus departed from Schiphol aboard the first KLM flight carrying Dutch workers associated Read more
On 22 July 1950, Pieter Snoey, known as Peter, departed from Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport aboard the KLM flight carrying Dutch workers and family members to Australia. He occupied seat G2 and arrived in Sydney on 26 July, following several intermediate Read more
Karel Frederik Lodewijk Morlang was born in Vlissingen on 3 December 1919, the son of Jan Morlang and Catharina de Buck. His father served as a sailor and victualling steward with the Royal Netherlands Navy, and Karel later followed him Read more
Jan Cornelis Maasland was born in Brandwijk, South Holland, on 17 March 1926. He was the son of Gerrit Maasland, born in Molenaarsgraaf in 1891, and Clara de Ruijter, born in Bleskensgraaf en Hofwegen in 1896. On 22 July 1950, Read more
Dirk Hartman Dorchain was born in Rotterdam on 22 April 1925, the son of Dirk Hartman Dorchain, an office clerk, and Johanna Clazina Schalkwijk. Around 1950, he married Teuna Boer, whose name was sometimes recorded as Tuena. Born in Sliedrecht Read more