This search form (with id 3) does not exist!

Letters from emigrant Jan de Vries – Tasmania 1949

Introduction The following are 29 letters, written by one of the first Dutch migrants to Tasmania, who settled in Penguin in 1949. He composed these letters as reports for his cohort still in the Netherlands, encouraging them to prepare for their eventual migration and urging them to act quickly. It

Read More »

Claude Belloni-Dutch-Indonesian in Australia

The Sun in His Eyes, written is book written by Renée Belloni. It explores the life of Claude Belloni, a Dutch-Indonesian man whose experiences capture the complex identity struggles of mixed-race Indonesians during and after Dutch colonial rule. Claude’s life, marked by extraordinary events—from surviving a shipwreck and witnessing the

Read More »

What’s for dinner for Dutch emigrants

The chapter Bitterballen, snacks, nostalgie en Holland-promotie (Bitterballen, snacks, nostalgia, and Holland promotion) in the publication ‘Wat schaft de pot‘ (What’s for dinner) discusses the role of traditional Dutch food, particularly bitterballen and other snacks, in maintaining nostalgia and cultural identity for Dutch emigrants, including those in Australia. Bitterballen, a

Read More »

Indonesian Independence: Australia’s Involvement.

This paper by Dr.Nonja Peters presents a comprehensive exploration of Australia’s involvement in Indonesian independence and the complex historical narrative surrounding the Dutch East Indies during and after World War II. It addresses the “History Wars” between Dutch and Indonesian perspectives on Indonesian independence, focusing on critical issues such as

Read More »

Dutch evacuations from Indonesia to Australia

This paper written by Dr. Nonja Peters, explores the social and political context of two evacuations out of the Netherlands East Indies (NEI) into Australia, the first from just before the Kalidjati capitulation on 8 March 1942 the second in the aftermath of war from 1945 to 1948. Who were

Read More »

Indo (Eurasian) Communities in Australia

Dutch Indonesian Association – Cairns In April 1995 a small group of Indische mensen’ (people born in Indonesia), such as Rob Elstak, Eric & Rob Marcus, Leo Vandersar, Jan Schmieman and Andreas Flach, came together in Cairns and founded the ‘Dutch Indonesian. Association – Melati’ (Jasmine). Andreas Flach became the

Read More »

Community music, identity and belonging among Dutchies in Australia.

This article discusses the experiences of Dutch identity and belonging to a music-making group in the Dutch migrant community in Melbourne, Australia. The article shows how making music together can bridge generational, gender and class differences. Multiculturalism empowered the participants to explore their dual identity as Dutch Australians, intersecting with

Read More »

Digital Preservation of Cultural Heritage

The paper “Digital Preservation of Cultural Heritage” examines the current state of digitalisation in Australian archives and libraries, comparing it with global trends. It highlights how technological advancements and globalisation allow us to rethink how we preserve cultural heritage, especially in relation to migration. Migrant histories, scattered across borders, require

Read More »

Dick Diamonde (1947-2024)

Dingeman Adriaan Henry van der Sluijs, better known by his stage name Dick Diamonde, was a Dutch Australian bass player. Born in the Dutch town Hilversum, Diamonde emigrated to Australia with his parents when he was four years old. The family lived in the Villawood migrant hostel in western Sydney

Read More »

The Gemma Constantiniana and the Batavia shipwreck

The Gemma Constantiniana is a remarkable artifact – only one of three of the Roman period – that weaves together the stories of ancient Rome, Dutch maritime history, and European royalty. This 4th-century CE sardonyx cameo, created during the reign of Emperor Constantine the Great, celebrates the emperor and his

Read More »

The Life and Legacy of Dien Knol – Freese (1905 – 2001)

Born on December 15, 1905, in Groningen, the Netherlands, Berendina Annagena (Dien) Knol (née Freese) led a remarkable life marked by resilience, faith, and service. Her family migrated to Australia in 1928 after her father, Jurjen Peter Freese, faced financial ruin in the Netherlands. Dien, aged 23 at the time,

Read More »

The history of Dutch Clubs in NSW

The following text is from a booklet published by the Federation of Netherlands Societies Ltd. in February 1985. The research for this booklet was done by Mijntje Hagen. Acknowledgement Many thanks to the clubs, their secretaries, and the many members of the various societies who have made it possible for

Read More »

John Hackett: An Australian-Born Leader in Operation Market Garden

General Sir John Winthrop Hackett, better known as “Shan,” was an Australian-born British soldier who played a pivotal role in one of World War II’s most ambitious military operations, Operation Market Garden. Born on November 5, 1910, in Perth, Western Australia, Hackett’s early life was steeped in both Australian and

Read More »

Werkspoor Australia

In 1952, Werkspoor Engineering Works, a Dutch construction company, was commissioned to construct the Shell refinery plant in Geelong, Australia. On 18 March 1954, the Geelong refinery became the first of Australia’s post-war refineries to come on stream. Its commissioning sent ripples of excitement throughout the Geelong community and was

Read More »

Building Dutch Air Power in World War II

The Role of Lend-Lease and Aircrew Training in the United States During World War II, the United States earned the nickname “the Arsenal of Democracy” due to its sheer productive output. The hardware turned out in US factories included over 3 million trucks and jeeps, 86,000 tanks, 6,750 naval platforms,

Read More »

Pioneering Dutch settlers in the 1920s-In search of utopia

By Diane Gabb Introduction Much has been written about the large numbers of Dutch migrants who sought a new home in Australia after the devastation of World War II when over 200 000 citizens had lost their lives and the failed Netherlands economy had little to offer but emigration propaganda. Australia

Read More »

Northam/Holden Immigration Accommodation Centre

In Northam, the Northam Army Camp was converted for use as a reception and accommodation centre and the 118th General Field Hospital was refurbished to become the Holden Holding Centre. The RAAF base at Cunderdin also became a reception and accommodation centre. It served as a pivotal hub for migrants

Read More »

Dutch involvement in the Allied Intelligence Bureau WWII

The following information comes from the website Australia@War. This service provides more in-depth info on several aspects mentioned in this article and links have been provided to that information. Other links related to the Dutch activities are provided as well and point to information in the DACC data base. Allied

Read More »

Impact of FIFA Transfer Ban on Australian Football and Dutch Influx: 1959

Following the 1957 Australian Football Coup Australian football clubs began recruiting players from European clubs like those in Austria and the Netherlands. Thirty-four players, including thirteen from Dutch clubs, migrated to Australia, sparking a dispute over transfer fees. In response, FIFA banned Australia from international competitions until transfer fees were

Read More »

Anton van den Hengel Professor in Artificial Intelligence.

Anton van den Hengel is likely the only person born in the Netherlands who is also a fourth-generation Port Adelaidian. His father’s family hails from Amsterdam, specifically from the Jordaan district. Before settling in Amsterdam, the van den Hengels originated from a small town near Utrecht. Anton’s grandparents owned a

Read More »

The Dutch Influence in the Australian Football Revolution of 1957

The history of soccer governance in New South Wales, Australia, dates back to 1882, evolving through various associations until the formation of the Australian Soccer Football Association (ASFA) in 1921. By 1943, the New South Wales Soccer Football Association was established to oversee the sport within the state. In 1957,

Read More »

David Bos Dutch restaurateur of the Black Tulip

David Bos, a Dutch immigrant, arrived in Sydney in the 1930s. During World War II, he played a crucial role as manager of the Netherlands Canteen. This canteen became a vital social hub for Dutch military personnel after the Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies in 1942. After the

Read More »

The diamond mystery (WWII)

Republished with permission. Chapter five from the book: A Touch of Dutch. For the full pdf click here. See also: Dutch-Russian Ace Pilot Iwan Smirnoff (WWII) The Lost Dutch Diamonds on Carnot Beach, Western Australia

Read More »

Anna Siebenhaar under government surveillance  Perth ca 1900

Anna Siebenhaar, the older sister of Willem Siebenhaar, followed his brother from the Netherlands to Perth, Australia in the 1890s. In 1896 at the age of 42 she married Edgar Semmens at Coolgardie In 1908, Anna was appointed the Australasian representative of the ‘Het Algemeen Nederlandsch Verbond’ (the ANV or

Read More »

Search the Welcome Walls databases for immigrants.

Welcome Walls are monument dedicated to immigrants who have come to Australia and contributed to the nation’s development. It is a significant project aimed at acknowledging and celebrating the diverse heritage and stories of the millions of people who migrated to Australia from various parts of the world. They serve

Read More »

Double Dutch – the Dutch language in Western Australia

 By: Anne Pauwels INTRODUCTION The Dutch have a longstanding reputation for individual bilingualism and even multilingualism. Their knowledge of other languages is mainly a result of school-based language learning, combined with regular contact with other speech communities. The main languages learnt in the Dutch education system were and continue to

Read More »

Boomerang Church Youth Club  Perth

By: Jan Pritchard During the later Fifties and early Sixties, The Boomerang Youth Club was central to the social life of twenty or more teenagers. Most were working full time by the age of sixteen, and parents were strict, so that the weekly club night at a North Perth church

Read More »

The Hervormde Kerk in Perth

By: Jan Pritchard In Western Australia, recently arrived members of the Dutch Hervormde Kerk were most often affiliated with the Presbyterian Church. However, during the peak years of Dutch migration to WA 1952-1964, it was also usual for the Hervormde Kerk in the Netherlands to send Dutch clerics here to

Read More »

Dutch authors van het Reve and their link with Australia.

Karel (1921-1999) en Gerard (1923-2006) van het Reve are two of the Netherlands most important post-WWII authors. Their mother, Net Jannetta Jacoba Doornbusch (1892-1959), simply Net, came from Almelo. Her father Kornelis worked in the textile industry and had a small farm. There were ten siblings in the family, including

Read More »

Dutchman John Rothwell founder of Austal

John Rothwell, who anglicised his Dutch name, is the co-founder and chairman of Austal Limited. Rothwell’s leadership and vision were instrumental in transforming Austal into a global leader in shipbuilding. In 1990, John Rothwell penned a strategic paper that would shape the future of Austal. In this document, Rothwell outlined

Read More »

Book: Vertrek by Keith Paulusse

Vertrek is a lively, wide-ranging social biography about fifteen postwar Australian-Dutch families, taking central stage is the Paulusse family. Candidly narrated by Kees Paulusse, the son of Dutch immigrants to Melbourne in the early sixties, this chronicles the family’s adventure and his own perceptions and experience. Vertrek begins on November

Read More »

Timeline of recorded ship landings 1606-1814

This is a timeline of the build-up to and recorded events of  Australia’s earliest maritime history. It Includes the ‘Australia On The Map (AOTM) Landings List 1606 – 1814’ from Willem Janszoon* to Louis de Freycinet and Matthew Flinders. It is a database of concise information about  landings on and

Read More »

Book: The Dutch Down Under

The celebrations of the first 400 years of relations between The Commonwealth of Australia and The Kingdom of The Netherlands in 2006 marked a very special and important event for both countries. The shared relationship between the two countries was first established in 1606, when the Dutch vessel Duyfken mapped

Read More »

A few Dutch connections to the 1932 Kimberley Rescue

In 1932, a daring attempt to circumnavigate the globe by air turned into a harrowing survival story for German pilot Hans Bertram and mechanic Adolph Klausmann. Their journey in the Junkers W 33 seaplane, Atlantis, registration D-1925, took an unexpected turn when they were forced to make an emergency landing

Read More »

The Dutch Toponymic Legacy in Australia

A country’s toponyms has many hidden complexities. For example, some name-forms can deceive theunwary in terms of their origins and meanings. Australia’s toponymy is a good case in point.Many of Australia’s toponyms are transparent as to their etymologies, such as, Port Macquarie (NSW),Sandy Bay (TAS), whilst others are more opaque,

Read More »

Dutch Circular Economy inspires the Bega Valley

Bega aims to become Australia’s most circular economy by 2030, inspired by pioneering Dutch practices. The concept of circularity, which involves keeping materials in use at their highest value, designing out waste, and regenerating natural systems, has taken root in Bega, following the Dutch model. Circularity is described as a

Read More »

A Song of Cape Leewin. By Ernest Favenc

Beaten by tempest and stormed by drift, Steady I keep my post, And laugh at the southern rollers long, For I’m guard of the Southern Coast. I watched the Dutchmen on their way, In the days of long ago, But they set no foot on my rocky shore, Where the

Read More »

Andrew Bolt’s reflections on his Dutch heritage

By Andrew Bolt, social and political commentator, writer and TV producer. I was born in Adelaide and always felt some contact with Holland. We got parcels every few months from my mother’s parents or sisters of zoute drop, stophoest and editions of Panorama.  I read (or just looked at) cartoon

Read More »

Dutch links with Sweers Island – Gulf of Carpentaria

Sweers Island is an island in the South Wellesley Islands in the Gulf of Carpentaria, Queensland. The island was given its European name by explorer Matthew Flinders on 16 November 1802 after Salomon Sweers, a council member of the East India Company at Batavia who was one of those who

Read More »

Dutch? 17c vase – Cooktown Museum

While the vase looks more Middle Eastern or Asian it might come from a Dutch ship. It forms part of the Captain Thomson collection at the Cooktown Museum. As indicated in the label below the picture it may have found by Frank Jardine, an early landowner, settler and police commissioner

Read More »

Trixie van Lieshout (Tagg): First Coach of the Mathildas

Early Life and Introduction to Football Trixie Tagg (née van Lieshout) was born on December 13, 1948, in Amsterdam. Growing up in Amsterdam-West, Trixie was introduced to football at a young age, playing street football with friends—mostly boys—in the late 1950s. She fondly remembers listening to football matches on the

Read More »

Aaron Mooy from Sydney to Football Stardom and Retirement

Dutch heritage Aaron Frank Mooy, originally named Aaron Kuhlman, was born on 15 September 1990 in Sydney, Australia. His surname was changed by his Dutch mother after her divorce. Mooy had minimal contact with his father, only meeting him briefly at age 14 to sign forms for a Dutch passport.

Read More »

Thank you DACC website users – website statistics

We are excited to share with you our latest website statistics, which serve as a resounding vote of confidence in the digital strategy we embarked upon four years ago. This snapshot, taken on July 7th, offers a comprehensive overview of our website’s performance over the past 28 days. Your continued

Read More »

The colourful life of Jan de Voogd

Johannes Jan Nicolaas de Voogd, known as Jan, was born in January 1932 in Japan to Dutch parents, Nicolaas Arie Johannes (Niek) de Voogd (1899-1977) and Amarintia Clasina de Vries (1903-1998). Jan’s parents married in 1930 in Kattendijke in Zeeland, the Netherlands. At the time his father Niek was an

Read More »

Dutch Submarines operating from Australia during WWII

The submarine division of the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNN) was launched in 1906. At the start of WWII, it had approx. 25 submarines in service, with 15 boats deployed in the Netherlands East Indies (NEI). They included the: K-VII (507 tons), K-VIII, K-IX, K-X (all 521 tons), K-XI, K-XII, K-XIII (all 611 tons), K-XIV, K-XV, K-XVI, K-XVII, K-XVIII (all 771 tons), O-16 (896 tons), O-19, O-20 (both 998 tons). After

Read More »

Dutch participation in the Seventh Fleet

  The 7th Fleet was formed on March 15, 1943 in Brisbane, Australia, during World War II. It served in the South West Pacific Area (SWPA) under the control of General Douglas MacArthur, and the 7th Fleet commander also served as commander of Allied naval forces in the SWPA. This

Read More »

Engelandvaarder Chris van Oosterzee – trained in Australia

Christiaan Vincent Gradwell (Chris) van Oosterzee, born on March 20, 1922, in Weltevreden (Batavia), and died on April 18, 1989, in Amsterdam, was a significant figure during and after World War II. His life included notable interactions with Australia during his military service. Early Life and Military Involvement Chris van

Read More »

Money for the Netherlands East Indies printed in Australia

There is an unconfirmed story that General Douglas MacArthur ordered the printing of money for the Netherlands East Indies at the Commonwealth Bank Note Printing Works in Melbourne. This printing facility, established in 1912, had its role taken over by the Reserve Bank of Australia in 1960. There are mentions

Read More »

Hendrik Kolenberg Art Curator – Art Gallery of NSW

Early Life and Education Hendrik (Cornelis Gijsbertus) Kolenberg was born in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, on July 31, 1946, to Gijsbertus Anthonius Kolenberg and Wilhelmina Maria Kolenberg (née Schellaars). In October 1952, the Kolenberg family emigrated to Australia, where Hendrik began his education. He attended Black Forest Primary, Forbes Primary, and

Read More »

1766 Australia’s First Pandemic

After publishing ‘The Lost White Tribes of Australia‘ Part Two, the author Henry van Zanden realised that the Victorian chapters deserved a more thorough investigation and its own book dedicated entirely to the smallpox outbreak in Victoria and NSW. In Victoria, he explored the South-western districts especially Lake Condah and

Read More »

The Java-Broome Evacuation route February and March 1942

The link below is a PowerPoint presentation from Dr. Nonja Peters – 2023 See also: The Drama of Broome 3-3-1942 The 18 Netherlands East Indies Squadron RAAF Stories of the Dutch WWII submarines in Australia Dutch at WWII Camp Columbia Brisbane 1944 – 1947 Dutch merchant fleet delivered major contribution

Read More »

Interview with Dirk Stellema – pilot 18 Squadron

Dirk Stellema, comes from Snake in Friesland, Born in 1917, Was in the airforce in the NEI in 1937, and was in Australia during the war from 1942, and came to Australia permanently in 1949 , and was in the 18th Squadron Note: Somebody in the group saying Allies in

Read More »

Cornelis du Buy – table tennis champion

Cornelis du Buy was born on January 8, 1921, in Amsterdam, the son of Cornelis du Buy and Maria Catharina Ramakers. During his teenage years, in the interwar period, Cornelis learned table tennis at home from his father, playing on the dining table. Cornelis’ mother, originally from Limburg, acted as

Read More »

Nico Martin van Dalen – Artist

Nico was born on 8 December 1932 at Nijmegen, Netherlands, and migrated to Australia in 1955. On arrival he stayed in the Bonegilla Migrant centre, in 1997 he produced 15 cartoon styled drawings of live as an early migrant in Australia. He worked as a designer in various positions until

Read More »

Dutch Women in Australia

In this paper Dr. Nonja Peters explores the manner in which Dutch women, who left the Netherlands at various times during the postwar period, negotiated and carved out an ‘identity’ and satisfied their need for a sense of belonging in Australia. The interpretation derives its conclusions from oral history interview

Read More »

Pastor Hans Mol’s Life, Career, and Contributions

Biography Johannis Jacob “Hans” Mol, (14 February 1922 – 26 November 2017)  a notable sociologist of religion, was born in Rozenburg. His early academic pursuits at the University of Amsterdam were disrupted by World War II when he refused to pledge allegiance to the Nazi party. Consequently, he was forced

Read More »

Barenbrug Australia part of Royal Barenbrug Netherlands

Barenbrug Australia, a subsidiary of the Royal Barenbrug Group, plays a significant role in the Australian agricultural sector. The Royal Barenbrug Group, headquartered in the Netherlands, was founded in 1904 by Joseph Barenbrug and has since become a global leader in grass and legume seed research, development, production, and marketing.

Read More »

De Vlamingh Memorial Sundial: A Historical Tribute Reimagined

Commemorating a Landmark Voyage The De Vlamingh Memorial Sundial stands as a testament to the historical voyage of Dutch explorer Willem de Vlamingh, whose expedition in 1697 culminated in the significant discovery of Western Australia. This interactive memorial not only commemorates de Vlamingh’s arrival at the Swan River but also

Read More »

Miegunyah House, Brisbane used by Dutch officers in WWII

The beautiful restored and well maintained Miegunjah home was built in Newstead, Brisbane close to Breakfast Creek around 1885 by William Perry an ironmonger with an extensive business selling ironware. The house was sold in 1926 to Marie Menzies, wife of dentist Dr Andrew R. Menzies. When Dr Menzies died

Read More »

Where to find Shipping Lists – Passenger arrival records?

The National Australian Archives (NAA) holds a large number of passenger arrival records. These records indicate how people moved into and out of Australia. You can search these arrival records in the NAA collection. This includes detailed passenger records for arrivals and departures at all Australian ports from 1924. This

Read More »

Andries Snoek Dutch journalist in Australia

Andries Snoek (1932-2024) has been writing for Dutch newspapers in Australia for 37 years, contributing to the Dutch Australian Weekly from 1983 to 2004, and to the Melbourne-based Dutch Courier from 2005 till his death in 2024. His career in journalism began at the age of 14 in Gorinchem, when

Read More »

The zoological Lydekker’s Line

Lydekker’s line defines the easternmost extension of oriental animals into the zone of mixing between the Oriental and Australian faunal regions.The Lydekker’s Line and extends into the Pacific Ocean. To the east of this line lies the so called Notogaean, or Australian to the west is the Wallace Line. This

Read More »

Camp Columbia Exhibition at the MacArthur Museum, Brisbane

In April, representatives of the Camp Columbia Heritage Association (CCHA) met with John Wright, the director of the MacArthur Museum in Brisbane (MM-B), to discuss the possibility of hosting a pop-up exhibition on Camp Columbia. Since Wacol, the actual location of Camp Columbia, is out of town, we explored the idea of

Read More »

Central Bureau: WWII Codebreakers in the Pacific

During World War II, the Central Bureau was established in 1942 to support General Douglas MacArthur’s South-West Pacific Area Command. This unit brought together intelligence personnel from various countries, including Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, and the Netherlands. Concurrently, the Fleet Radio Unit Melbourne (FRUMEL)

Read More »

Football player and recruiter Tony Noy

Tony Noy, emigrated to Australia from Gennep as an eighteen year old with his family and was soon playing in the Melbourne competition, first with Slavia, and then with Wilhelmina, enticed there by Van Hoboken with the promise of a job for his father and cheap housing for his family.

Read More »

Top scorer in Adelaide: footballer Willem Slager

Willem (Willy. Wil) Slager born in 1941 in Ede near Arnhem. His family was evacuate to Friesland in 1944 when the Allied launched operation ‘Market Garden’ with bitterly fighting around Arnhem. He arrived in Australia in 1957 and settled in the suburb of Elizabeth in Adelaide. Het got a job

Read More »

The Dutch heritage of Ballarat City F.C.

According to Adam Muyt in his book Clogball, Ballarat fielded a range of football clubs with typical Dutch football names: Juliana, Wilhelmina, Hollandia, and Fortuna. By the end of the 1960s, these clubs had folded, merged, or were no longer majority Dutch. In 1967, what was left merged into the

Read More »

Socceroo Adrian Leijer 2nd generation Dutch

Born in 1968, he largely grew up in, the New South Wales town of Dubbo to a family of Dutch and English heritage. He played from Under 10 – Under 14 with SASS Strikers Junior Soccer Club in the Dubbo & District Soccer Association. Whilst with SASS, he represented Western

Read More »

Creswick Victoria – Little Holland

Creswick welcomes the Dutch The Creswick and District Historical Society, Inc. has published a new history of Dutch immigration to Creswick, contributed by the Dutch community. This essay, “Creswick Welcomes the Dutch,” authored by Jack van Beveren, Gerarda van Hamond, Jo van Oostveen, Rita Flapper, and Marilyn Lennox, chronicles the

Read More »

The Dutch in Geelong

Dutch Clubs In 2024, the Dutch population in Geelong comprises of 1400 people. In the early 1950’s they established the Geelong Dutch Club, which has since grown to 10 active Dutch clubs servicing the Geelong Region, they are: • Swallows Karnival Club• The Rocket Club• Micare/ Dutchcare• 50 plus Club•

Read More »

Six Dutch Houses in Brisbane proposed for heritage protection

In May 2024, six ‘Dutch Houses’ in Brisbane have been nominated for heritage protection. The Dutch Australian Cultural Centre has brought the history of these houses to the attention of the local community. As a result, the local history group has requested this protection. The DACC contributed to the preparation

Read More »

WWII Dutch Lockheed crash landed near Katherine

The following is a translation of a story recorded in the book: “De KNILM vloog door..“ (The Royal Netherlands Indies Airways continued to fly) On Thursday, March 26, 1942, a Lockheed Super Electra SE-14 PK-AFM operated by KNILM (Royal Netherlands Indies Airways) failed to arrive at its destination of Batchelor

Read More »

Tragic loss of Dutch men at the Wittenoom asbestos mine

The battle against CSR’s corporate responsibility began in the 1970s, with former Wittenoom workers contesting the company’s use of the corporate veil as protection. Initially, legal actions were directed at Midalco Pty Ltd, a CSR subsidiary, shielding the parent company from direct litigation. Cornelius Maas was among the first to

Read More »

Three Dutch Naval Visits to Australia in the 1970s

Following the extensive naval presence during WWII, the more peaceful years of the 1960s, saw a new approach emerged where Naval Visits were amalgamated with a national ‘Holland Promotion’. This represented a distinct new form of ‘Flying the Flag’, showcasing the national flag by sending one or more warships abroad.

Read More »

‘Holland’ wins 1956 World Cup Down Under

The Laidlaw World Cup Down Under, nestled amidst the post-war resurgence of football fervor in Victoria, stands as a testament to the multicultural tapestry woven into the sport’s fabric. Its origins traced back to 1949 with a diverse array of teams taking to the field, including representatives from Great Britain,

Read More »

Dick van Alphen: A Tribute to an Australian Soccer Icon

Born on September 18, 1934, in the Netherlands, Van Alphen left an indelible mark on Australian soccer, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire generations. Dick passed away on May 21, 2009, at his home in Hervey Bay, Queensland. Van Alphen’s journey in soccer began in his native Amsterdam,

Read More »

Japanese concentration camp Palembang and the Paradise Road Women Choir

In the occupied Netherlands East Indies, Japan sought to eradicate all Western influence from public life. In the outlying regions, non-Asian individuals were promptly interned following the occupation. Consequently, women from the Netherlands, Australia, England, and the Dutch East Indies found themselves compelled to coexist in internment camps. In the

Read More »

WWII  veteran and businessman Alex Leemhuis

Alex war activities and memories are recorded by the National Library of Australia. A+P Leemhuis Builders was established in 1956 by Alex Leemhuis. Alex arrived in Australia in 1951 from Netherlands, met his wife (Urselina) and settled in Canberra. Since then they have built a multi-generational family business that’s now

Read More »

The Changi Quilts – WWII

Changi Prison, originally designed to hold 600 inmates, was overwhelmed with around 2,400 internees, including civilians associated with the British and Dutch colonial administrations. Among them were women and children, housed alongside male prisoners of war. Despite being overcrowded, Changi was relatively modern, boasting amenities like flushing toilets, though hygiene

Read More »

Battle of Ambon – Laha Massacre

The Battle of Ambon, which raged from January 30 to February 3, 1942, in the Netherlands East Indies during World War II, held significant strategic implications due to its potential for facilitating air attacks on Australia. The Dutch garrison, ill-equipped and understaffed, found itself confronting Japanese aggression alongside Allied forces,

Read More »

Lieutenant Anton van Beurden – WWII

The following information is from the Australian War Memorial. Anton van Beurden was born in 1912. He joined the Dutch merchant navy as a young man, specialising in radio telegraphy. In 1933, he was selected for officer training in the Royal Netherlands Naval Reserve (RNNR). After attending the Royal Naval

Read More »

Projected Dutch Aged Stats NSW 1981- 2001

The following text is from a booklet published by the Federation of Netherlands Societies Ltd. in February 1985. The research for this booklet was done by Mijntje Hagen.  The Dutch NSW Nursing Committee is actively carrying out a feasibility study regarding the establishment of a nursing home or, alternatively, the provision of

Read More »

Organising Dutch Speech Competitions

We received an email with this Facebook post from the Dutch Community in New Zealand, with the suggestion that this perhaps is also an idea for Dutch organisations in Australia. Dutch Clubs and Dutch Language Schools might be interested in organising something along these lines.

Read More »

The New South Wales-Holland Festival Committee (history)

The following text is from a booklet published by the Federation of Netherlands Societies Ltd. in February 1985. The research for this booklet was done by Mijntje Hagen.  In 1980, the vision for a grand Dutch celebration emerged, realizing that such an endeavor required the collaboration of many individuals beyond the capabilities

Read More »

Protestant Dutch Benevolent Society

The following text is from a booklet published by the Federation of Netherlands Societies Ltd. in February 1985. The research for this booklet was done by Mijntje Hagen.  The P.D.B.S. started its work in Australia in 1948. It began as a social committee of the Dutch congregation of the Presbyterian Church and

Read More »

The City of Blacktown Carnival Society “The Jokers”

The following text is from a booklet published by the Federation of Netherlands Societies Ltd. in February 1985. The research for this booklet was done by Mijntje Hagen.  Like all the other carnival clubs, The Jokers consider it their duty to give as many people as possible a chance to enjoy themselves

Read More »

The N.S.W. Klaverjas Federation NSW

The following text is from a booklet published by the Federation of Netherlands Societies Ltd. in February 1985. The research for this booklet was done by Mijntje Hagen.  This Federation was formed a few years ago to incorporate all the existing “klaverjasclubs”, whether they were part of an organisation or a separate

Read More »

Hollands Glorie Dutch Club in the Sydney region

The following text is from a booklet published by the Federation of Netherlands Societies Ltd. in February 1985. The research for this booklet was done by Mijntje Hagen. We don’t have any further information on this club. The youngest club in the metropolitan area of Sydney is “Hollands Glorie”. Only formed in 1983,

Read More »

Blue Mountains Dutch Club

The following text is from a booklet published by the Federation of Netherlands Societies Ltd. in February 1985. The research for this booklet was done by Mijntje Hagen. It is the only info we have on this organisation. The activities of this club are also very varied, but on the whole, everything

Read More »

Dutch-Australian sculptor Antone Bruinsma

Antone Bruinsma, an Australian-based sculptor, boasts over 35 years of professional experience in his craft. Having relocated to Australia from Amsterdam, Holland, with his family at the age of 12, his artistic journey began by spending quality time with his father, a Dutch artist and painter, in his art studio.

Read More »

DACC – Primary Research Projects

The following breakdown provides a comprehensive overview of completed and ongoing research projects in the field of DACC. Allies in a Bind: Australia and the Netherlands East Indies in the Second World War Australia Explained: A Site for Newcomers and Old Hands Children Born on Ships En Route to Australia

Read More »

Hawkesbury and district Dutch Australian Society

The following text is from a booklet published by the Federation of Netherlands Societies Ltd. in February 1985. The research for this booklet was done by Mijntje Hagen. It is the only info we have on this organisation. When land became scarcer and dearer and people had to move to the outer

Read More »

Ferdinand Jacobus Domela Nieuwenhuis Jr

Ferdinand Jacobus Domela Nieuwenhuis Jr., born on February 12, 1871, in Harlingen, Friesland, was the son of Ferdinand Domela Nieuwenhuis and Johanna Lulofs. His father, Ferdinand Domela Nieuwenhuis, was a prominent socialist figure in the Netherlands and served as the country’s first elected socialist Member of Parliament. Ferdinand Jr. seems

Read More »

De Wereldschool

The Wereldschool (‘world school’) was founded over 75 years ago and aims to help families that want to maintain their children’s language or education levels. In 1936 Philipp Abraham Kohnstamm founded the Institute for Individual Development (IVIO), and in 1948 the Wereldschool opened its doors. The school offers a Dutch

Read More »

Fortuna 60 SC – The Orangemen – Morwell Victoria

Morwell in the Latrobe Valley saw a large influx of Dutch emigrants in the 1950s. In 1954 12% of the population was Dutch this increased to 15% by 1961. Dutch Clubs followed soon as it is no wonder that many of the Dutchies became involved in football. Fortuna ’60 Soccer

Read More »

Textile Artist – Aadje Bruce

Born in Amsterdam 11-10-1934, died 5-4-2011 in PerthTextile Artist / Fashion Designer and Mixed Media Artist. Active Period c.1958 – c.2008 Artistic education: Diploma of Art Studies, Perth Technical College (1957), BA Fine Art (Fibre Textiles) Kunstnijverheidsschool/Rietveld Academie, Amsterdam (1982), BA (Sculpture) Curtin University (1990), M.A. Visual Arts, Curtin University

Read More »

The Drama of Broome 3-3-1942 – New doco added April 2024

On 3 March 1942 Japanese Zero bombers arrived and within 15 minutes bombed 23 Alied aircrafts that were either laying in the Roebuck bay or which were parked on the aerodrome. Approx half of them were NEI airplanes,  between 35 and 40 Dutch people were killed in the raid and some 60+ were badly injured.

Read More »

Philips – historic ephemera

Philips factory in Newcastle produced almost all Australia’s electric lamps for 70 years Frans Leddy reorganised Philips Australasia Turning Adversity into Opportunity: Philips in Australia, 1945-1980 European Integration and Australian Manufacturing Industry History of the manufacturer Philips Australia

Read More »

SPORT CLUB HOLLAND INC. – Gambier Centrals Soccer Club

Founded in August 1962, the club was known as “Sports Club Holland” until 1982-83, when a name change led to the modern Gambier Centrals being born. In 2003 the club finally put down roots on Bishop Road, moving from its second home on Penola Road alongside activ8. See also: Clogball

Read More »

Remembering Tasmanian Football Legend Adrian Harmsen

Adrian (Aad) Harmsen was born in Leiden in 1925. From a young school age he played football and became a key player in the local football club. During WWII he became involved resistance work and in 1945 he was employed as a translator at the Royal Dutch Aiforce. Worried about

Read More »

WWII Gould Airfield used by the Dutch for maintenance

During World War II, Gould Airfield, also known as Gould Strip, was an important airfield located in the Northern Territory of Australia. It played a significant role in the defence and strategic operations of the Allies in the Pacific theatre during the war. Here’s more information about Gould Airfield and

Read More »

S.C. Windmills – Dutch football club Perth

The Windmills Soccer Club, founded in 1950 by Dutch immigrants led by Hank Beumer, has a rich history in Western Australian soccer. Originally established as a recreational outlet for the local Dutch community, the club navigated its early years and gained entry into the Third Division of the Western Australian

Read More »

Wens de Jong – football lengend of Wagga Wagga

Wens de Jong was born in 1938 in Oude Wetering (Zuid Holland). At the age of 18, he embarked on a journey to Melbourne in 1956 alongside his parents John and Regina, along with their six siblings. His father, who worked as a baker in their village, had a passion

Read More »

The Clogs ( Klompen) Dutch football Club in Wagga Wagga

In the 1950s, a wave of Dutch migration reached Wagga Wagga, leaving its mark on the Riverina town’s sporting landscape with the formation of the Clogs (Klompen) football club. This article draws upon rich archival records to illuminate the Clogs’ story, revealing the unique spirit and challenges they faced. Founded

Read More »

The strategic position of Merauke during WWII

An often used trivia question in the Netherlands is, what part of the Netherlands remained unoccupied during WWII. The answer is Southwest Dutch New Guinea, with Merauke as its capital When General MacArthur initiated an offensive on mainland Netherlands New Guinea on a modest scale in 1942, his left flank

Read More »

Conference Papers and Keynote addresses by researchers

The following overview has been compiled by Dr. Nonja Peters Papers on Dutch culture and heritage by Nonja Peters 2016: Opening and closing/summing up speeches at the NIAS LORENZ International Workshop on Digital Humanities – Conceptualising a model for the Digital Preservation of Immigrants Cultural heritage, 22 and 26 August

Read More »

Adrian Strik, Child Migrant, Backpacker Grand Tour – Love Story

Born: Zeist, Netherlands on 9 March 1946. Adrian is the oldest child in a family of seven children. Migration: The family left for Melbourne, but disembarked in Fremantle, Western Australia (WA) on October 12, 1954. Adrian’s parent’s hoped migration would improve his father’s health (the fumes at the steel factory had impacted his

Read More »

Dutch Community Radio Western Australia

The history of Dutch Community Radio in Western Australia is rich with dedication and passion from its volunteers. It began nearly 50 years ago with reel-to-reel tapes and has evolved significantly since then. Initially established through the Multicultural Radio and Television Association (MRTA), the Dutch program aired on Radio 6NR

Read More »

Plan to settle 5000 Dutch soldiers in Australian 1949

MORE than 5000 Dutch soldiers will migrate to Australia soon after demobilization in Java. Their entry will be under a mutual agreement between the two countries, to be concluded soon. It is understood that the Australian Government stipulated in the agreement that the men should be single and under 30.

Read More »

Dutch WWI Diggers decorated in the Australian Imperial Force

During the First World War, the Netherlands remained neutral. Yet there are several hundreds Dutchmen who served in foreign armies, and some of them have received gallantry awards. This article – in Dutch – is about six Dutch people who live in the Netherlands Australian Imperial Force and have been

Read More »

A Dutch digger in World War I – Jan Zwolsman

This is an abstract from the article: A Dutch digger in World War I – Jan Zwolsman. By Bas de Groot January, 2022 Jan Zwolsman’s life story is a testament to resilience and activism, from his early days as a Dutch sailor to his later roles as a soldier, labor

Read More »

Novel ‘With love, Gerard’ – Monique McCallum

For Gerard and Hendrika, it is love at first sight in a dance hall in Amsterdam in 1953. The war years are thankfully behind them and joy is returning to the Earth. But for Gerard, the eldest of fourteen siblings, his family still faces starvation, lack of money, opportunity, and

Read More »

Dutch lessons in Perth, Australia

Unlike in the Netherlands, the school year in Australia runs from January to December. LanguageOne offers Dutch language and culture education for Dutch-speaking children, Dutch for beginners and special Dutch Kindy groups for toddlers in the city of Perth. In this last group the focus is on play, singing and

Read More »

Book: Coming to Australia – Pieter Koster

This autobiographical account of the author’s first ten years is based on his mother’s letters written in Australia and sent to relatives in Holland. Tells of the family’s migration to Australia in 1952, their time in Bonegilla Migrant Camp, their travels to Walwa, Benalla and Wodonga, and their eventual settlement

Read More »

Theo Paap: A Dutch-Australian Football Legend

Theo Paap’s journey from Amsterdam to Perth in 1956 marked the beginning of a remarkable career in Australian football. Born in Amsterdam in 1943, Paap quickly immersed himself in the local Dutch football scene, joining the Windmills Football Club (now Morley Windmills). He immediately made an impact, rising through the

Read More »

First Dutch contacts in Australia

South coast of Australia to 1772 and beyond Although part of the south coast, from Cape Leeuwin to around Fowlers Bay, was first mapped in 1627, there are no documented accounts of any visits until Vancouver entered King Georges Sound on 29 September 1791, staying until 11 October 1791. While

Read More »

Collaboration with Dutch organisations in Australia

A revitalised Dutch Australian Cultural Centre (DACC) operates digitally Australia-wide and even internationally. The DACC was established in 1983 to oversee the preservation of Dutch heritage in Australia, including maritime history, migration, businesses, and the Dutch presence in Australia during World War II. For most of its existence, the DACC

Read More »

Camp Columbia and the Indonesian story

Camp Columbia in Brisbane was set up by the Americans in 1942 as a staging camp for the liberation of the Southwest Pacific. When the Americans moved on to Hollandia in Dutch New Guinea in 1944, the Dutch took over Camp Columbia. It was used by the Netherlands East Indies

Read More »

English sailor receives Netherlands Bronze Cross

During the Second World War, English sailor Henry Alfred Brooklyn (born 27 July 1922 in Cambridge, England; sometimes known as Harry) was decorated with the Netherlands Bronze Cross. This story was brought to our attention by his daughter, Wendy Arrowsmith, and published with her consent. Brooklyn served on board the

Read More »

Migrant (R)e-collections- Proposal for a workshop (historic)

All over the world migrants have left multiple traces, deep traces that are indispensable forthe fostering of heritage communities and for research in the humanities and social sciences.Yet the growing societal demand for cultural services and the increasingly insufficientresources available to manage migrants’ cultural heritage is creating a gap —

Read More »

Abel Tasman Landing Site – Tasmania 1642

The Tasman expedition left Batavia (Netherlands East Indies, now Jakarta, Indonesia) on 14th August 1642 with two vessels, the Heemskerk with a 60-man crew and the Zeehaan with 50 men on board. They first called at Mauritius, where they stayed for a month-long repair to both ships. Intending to sail

Read More »

First Dutch contacts in Australia – Tasmania 1642 to 1772

Blackman Bay and East Coast of Tasmania 1642 Tasman’s Voyage of 1642 Journal – Abel Tasman Tasman, A J 1898Abel Janszoon Tasman’s Journal, J E Heeres (comp. and trans.),Amsterdam: Frederick Muller. p.15 [Report of Pilot-Major and Second Mate, 2 December 1642]They [shore party] had heard certain human sounds, and also sounds nearly

Read More »

Heineken beer has been on tap in Australia since 1884

Pierre van der Eng It may appear that Dutch multinational beer brewer Heineken has long tried to carry the proverbial coal to Newcastle, because its beer has been on sale in Australia since 1884. In October that year, an advertisement of trading company Boult Bros in Adelaide announced the sale

Read More »

Victory Ships (SS Groote Beer, Zuiderkruis and Waterman)

The Victory ship was a class of cargo ship produced in large numbers by North American shipyards during World War II to replace losses caused by German submarines. They were a more modern design compared to the earlier Liberty ship, were slightly larger and had more powerful steam turbine engines,

Read More »

Rene Lubbers – story of an emigrant

I was born in Heerlen and my family emigrated to Australia, (Brisbane) in 1956 when I was 3 years old. My parents didn’t speak English but learned quickly in order to fit in. Upon arriving in Australia We travelled by train from Melbourne to Brisbane where we were lodged in

Read More »

Dirk Drok and the discovery of the Batavia

Dirk Drok (Dalfsen, Netherlands 1915–1988), Perth) and his wife Kitty Isabella Theodora Uitenhage de Mist-Barkey (Java 1921–2001 Perth) lived in Java, Netherlands East Indies NEI (now Indonesia). After the Japanese had occupied the NEI, Dirk and kitty both – separately – ended up in Japanese Camps. There is an extensive

Read More »

Milk and Honey – but no Gold

By Dr. Nonja Peters Milk and Honey – but no Gold is the story of those who left behind their country of birth, and everyone and everything they knew, to become part of Australia’s mass migration scheme in the years following World War II. Some were homeless and displaced refugees from

Read More »

The Duyfken – Duyfken Replica 25 anniversary

The first documented and undisputed European sighting of and landing in Australia was in late February 1606, by the Dutch navigator Willem Janszoon aboard the Duyfken. Janszoon charted some 300 kms of the northern parts of the Australian coast and met with Aboriginal people. Janszoon followed the coast of New

Read More »

Ed & Wilhelmina Van Den Enden – Tasmania

Peter McInnes provided information on his Dutch heritage through Ed & Wilhelmina Van Den Enden whom immigrated from Holland after WWII to Tasmania & retiring in Ulverstone.  My grandparents were active within the Dutch community of Tasmania, participating in cultural events in both Tasmania & Queensland when they visit here. 

Read More »

WWII Pilot Guus Hagers, Lienke and the Forgotten Story

One of the greatest pilots of the 18 Netherlands East Indies Squadron RAAF was Gerson (Guus) Hagers. In February 1942 he was part of the group tasked with receiving newly acquired B 25 bombers from the USA at Archerfield Airport in Brisbane. The planes didn’t arrive in time and in

Read More »

Annita van Iersel former spouse of PM Paul Keating

Anna Johanna Maria van Iersel born on October 5, 1948, is an accomplished Dutch-born Australian artist and the former spouse of Paul Keating, the ex-Prime Minister of Australia. She held the name Annita Keating from 1975 to 1998. Originally hailing from Oisterwijk, North Brabant, Netherlands, Annita pursued language studies in

Read More »

Dutch immigrant ship S.S. De Waterman

The SS Waterman, initially constructed as the enlarged Victory troopship SS La Grande Victory (VC2-S-AP3), holds a notable place in maritime history. Post-World War II, the State of the Netherlands procured three ships from the US War Shipping Administration, and the SS Waterman was one of them. Designed with reinforced

Read More »

Links to declassified WWII Australian Documents re the Netherlands East Indies

Researched by Ruby Todorovski, researcher at the University of Queensland. Source: National Archives of Australia. Netherlands East Indies Commission for Australia and New Zealand Netherlands East Indies Government-in-Exile in Australia (1944-1946) Netherlands Forces in Australia WWII Evacuees from Netherlands East Indies recuperating in Australia after WWII Migration and Repatriation issues

Read More »

Netherlands Forces in Australia WWII

Declassified documents from the National Archives of Australia, researched by Ruby Todorovski, University of Queensland Links to other declassified WWII Australian Documents re the Netherlands East Indies Military Command After the surrender of the Dutch military in the Netherlands East Indies to the Japanese in March 1942, the Dutch military

Read More »

Migration and Repatriation issues after the liberation of NEI

This file, researched by Ruby Todorovski researcher at the University of Queensland includes documents regarding people who wanted to migrate to Australia after the war and issues regarding the repatriation of service people. See also: Evacuees from Netherlands East Indies recuperating in Australia after WWII Links to declassified WWII Australian

Read More »

Various WWII Diplomatic Australian documents

All files below were researched by Ruby Todorovski, researcher University of Queensland Netherlands East Indies, Transfer of Government Officials to Australia – 1942 7th March 1942, Dr van Mook, van Oyen and van Plas arrived in Perth Major-General Van Oyen in charge of postwar reconstructions in NEI 26/10/43 Red Cross

Read More »

Arend and Catherina Brugman – Righteous Among the Nations

On 30 August 2023 Arend Reinirus and Catherina Berendina Brugman-Harmes were posthumous awarded the title: Righteous Among the Nations by Mr Chris Cantor the Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of Israel in Australia. The medal and certificate were received by their granddaughter Mrs Anne-Marie Buttigieg. Her grandparents with

Read More »

South coast of Australia to 1772 and beyond

Although part of the south coast, from Cape Leeuwin to around Fowlers Bay, was first mapped in 1627, there are no documented accounts of any visits until Vancouver entered King Georges Sound on 29 September 1791, staying until 11 October 1791. While extensive investigation were undertaken in the area, and

Read More »

Discussion on Dutch influence on the Nhanda language.

Nhanda is an Aboriginal language of Western Australia, once spoken along the coastal strip from possibly as far south as Hill River north through to Champion Bay and the mouth of the Murchison, up to country just south of Shark Bay. There has been very little work on Nhanda until

Read More »

Peter Grullemans – Indonesia Diary

Peter is a multi-faceted individual with a diverse educational and professional background. Born in Singapore to Dutch parents, he has pursued a wide range of interests and affiliations throughout his life. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) degree, which indicates his training in marketing, and a Diploma in Ministry

Read More »

WWII Camp Victory Casino

After the Japanese invasion of Indonesia in 1942, the Dutch fled to Australia taking with them Indonesian soldiers, sailors, government officials and more. The Dutch Government made a deal with the Australian Government which gave the Dutch extra-terrestrial rights over many Indonesian refugees, declaring several former army camps as Dutch

Read More »

Were the Dutch Australia’s first settlers?

By Tony Thomas Of all the accounts of the earliest Dutch arrivals in Australia, the wreck of the Concordia seems the strangest. A “great vessel” of 900 tonnes with 130 on board, it departed Java bound for the Netherlands in 1708. After a storm south of the Sunda Strait, the

Read More »

Petronella Jacoba Wensing OAM

Petronella Wensing (1924-2023) was a Dutch migrant to Australia who passed away in 2023. Below is an obituary written by her son Ed (posted with permission). A short story about Petronella was published in The Canberra Times: The Canberra Times also published a shortened version of Ed Wensing’s obituary for

Read More »

Dutch – Australian Trivia

A basic Australian history questionnaire Noel Jackling The term ‘Australia’ is used in a broad sense to include its earlier names. 1.    Who was the first known European skipper to reach Australia? What was the name of his ship and which part of Australia did he touch upon? In what

Read More »

SS Groote Beer – From Troop Transport to Emigrant Ship

The SS Groote Beer, originally built as the SS Costa Rica Victory, emerged as a significant vessel post-World War II. Constructed as an enlarged Victory troopship under the US War Shipping Administration, the ship was purchased by the State of the Netherlands. After a brief stint under the American Hawaiian

Read More »

Maetsuyker island Tasmania

Maatsuyker Island is named after Joan Maetsuycker, the The Dutch Governor of Zeylan (present-day Sri Lanka) during the Dutch period in Ceylon and later the Governor-General of the Netherlands East Indies from 1653 to 1678. The island was named by Dutch explorer Abel Tasman, who named it after Maetsuycker in

Read More »

Dutch Australians at a Glance (DAAAG)

Introduction DAAAG was created to be an accessible, easy to navigate, multimedia internet service dedicated to the sustainable digital preservation of Dutch Australians’ cultural heritage – for use by scholars, researchers, bureaucrats, journalists, Dutch individuals and other digital end users worldwide. DAAAG is an initiative of the History of Migration

Read More »

The Lost Dutch Diamonds on Carnot Beach, Western Australia

On the eve of the Netherlands East Indies’ capitulation, a series of evacuation flights brought Dutch citizens to the safety of Australia, with Broome emerging as a key evacuation hub. Among the heroic pilots, Dutch-Russian Captain Iwan Smirnoff stood out for his multiple successful evacuation missions, regarding it as a

Read More »

Herman Diederik Huyer Managing Director Philips Australia

Dutch businessman Herman Diederik Huyer, who settled in Australia in 1969.  Huyer was born in the Netherlands in 1920, and after World War II worked for the Dutch multinational company, the Philips Group.  He held posts around the world during his career. Frank Leddy reorganised Philips Australasia More than 150

Read More »

Australian Descendants of the VOC

In 2017 the Museum of Geraldton held an exhibition titled “Descendants of the VOC: Portraits and Histories”. Curated by Curtin University historian Dr Nonja Peters, the exhibition delved into the impact of the Netherlands East India Company’s (VOC) exploration during the 17th Century on indigenous peoples in Western Australia, Indonesia,

Read More »

Book: The UnDutchables

“The UnDutchables: An Observation of the Netherlands, Its Culture, and Its Inhabitants” is a humorous and irreverent exploration of Dutch life and society co-authored by Colin White and Laurie Boucke. First published in 1989, the book has become a best-seller in the Netherlands since 1990 and gained popularity in various

Read More »

Interview: The wanderings of Nies Lankamp

Different from most Dutch migrants, Nies Lankamp was not born in the Netherlands.  She was born in Teluk Bayur in North Eastern Borneo as Nies Landman.  Her father, Gerard Landman, worked there as machinist on the coal transport ships of the Koninklijke Pakketvaart Maatschappij (KPM).  Teluk Bayur is inland, connected

Read More »

Mauritz Kokkelink: A heroic tale of resistance and endurance.

For his extraordinary courage and perseverance, Kokkelink was knighted at Camp Columbia in Brisbane on April 12, 1945. His commendation highlighted his decisive actions, perseverance, and skill during the Japanese occupation, emphasising the “indescribable difficulties and hardships” he faced. Mauritz Christiaan Kokkelink, born on June 17, 1913, at the military

Read More »

Interview: All in the family. Henk Hoonhout and Ali Geeraerts

Hendrikus (Henk) Hoonhout and Alida Johanna Maria Geeraerts (Ali) are brother and sister.  They both live in Prins Willem Alexander Village in Birkdale, Brisbane Queensland, albeit in separate accommodation.  Ali is a widow and lives in a low-care unit, she is 99.  Henk, who never married, lives in an independent

Read More »

Interview: Hank and Bertie Halle – loving sports

Husband and wife, Hank and Bertie Halle were both born in 1933.  He in Deventer as Hendrik Halle, she in Zaandam as Egberta Westervaarder. Hank’s father was a well-known Dutch footballer and trainer, Jan Halle.  Jan and his brother, Leo, famous as the ‘Lion of Deventer’, both played for the

Read More »

Interview: Wubbo Bijker – ship builder

Wubbo Edward Bijker, was born in Rotterdam, Netherlands, in April 1939.  His parents were Wiebe Bijker, born in Zwolle, and Nicolette Kempff who was born in Haarlem.  Grandfather Bijker was Frisian.  Father Wiebe Bijker was a mechanical engineer and during the years after WW2 he built bridges all over Netherlands,

Read More »

Interview: Bill Hunt – Builder and bridge player

Bill Hunt is living in a low-care unit of Prins Willem Alexander Village (PWA) in Brisbane because he has severe vision limitations.  In spite of his English name, he was born in Assen (Drenthe) in 1934, named Willem Hoekstra, his father was Hans Hoekstra from Heerenveen, Friesland, and his mother

Read More »

Interview: Hanny van der Mark -tough migration years

After having interviewed two men who live at my retirement village, I now interviewed a migrant woman.  Our village actually has more female than male residents, so it’s about time.  Hanny came to Australia in 1950, when she was 10 years young.  She was born in Bussum, where she grew

Read More »

Interview: Steve Flierman – Property valuer

In my village, the Prince Willem Alexander Retirement Village (PAW), there’s plenty of migrants, mostly Dutch.  Some of them are here long enough to have been involved with the founding of the village.  I interviewed another one of our residents about his migrant experience.   Steve Flierman was born in

Read More »

Sinterklaas Overseas Foundation

Family in Holland could have a Sinterklaas package sent to their relatives overseas. There was all kinds of stuff in there. Candy, calendar, teaspoon, gramophone record, booklets, tablecloth, you name it. In the DACC archives is a tablecloth and sugar bowl from such a package (see below). See also: Sinterklaas

Read More »

Sinterklaas Treats

Pepernoten: The Traditional Sinterklaas DelicacyIs Christmas Eve truly complete without gingerbread cookies? Sinterklaas festivities naturally include these delightful treats, making them an essential part of the celebration. Gingerbread cookies, available at Dutch shops or enjoyable to make at home, hold the top spot on our list of Sinterklaas treats. Engage

Read More »

Sinterklaas celebrations at Dutch Clubs in Australia

These are photographs and Dutch Australian Weekly (DAW) newspaper clippings from the DACC archives of Sinterklaas celebrations within Australian club from the early fifties onwards. Dutch Australian Weekly newspaper clippings The DAW also used Sinterklaas to promote a subscription to the newspaper as a Sinterklaas gift Information on the Dutch

Read More »

Dinkum yet Dutch – Author John Lindeman

Property Market Analyst John Lindeman is widely respected as one of Australia’s leading market analysts. With well over a decade of experience researching the nature and dynamics of various types of assets at major data analysts, John is renowned as the market researcher that other experts go to for all

Read More »

Our Story – Experiences of the Dutch in Queensland

To ensure that the stories of Dutch migrants would be preserved for future generations, the former Dutch-Australian Community Action Federation Qld Inc. (DACA) published a 208 page book ‘Our Story — Experiences of the Dutch in Queensland’ in 2001. Editors: Annelies Zeissink, DACA-President and Rob-Jan Mynarends. The book presents personal

Read More »

Sinterklaas in Australia

The story of Sinterklaas (Sint Nicolaas) is of course well known, there is plenty of information on the internet about this typical Dutch tradition. Although it has changed over the years due to changes in society e.g. the arrival of radio, television, internet as well as an increasingly more multicultural

Read More »

Nederlands Military Air Transport Services in Australia – WWII

Military Air Transport in Australia started soon before the fall of the Netherlands East Indies (NEI). In the few months before this happened evacuations started to happen, mainly of Dutch civilian personnel including families of the Royal Netherlands East Indies Airline (KNILM). These civil aircrafts became the earliest core of

Read More »

The cartographic migration of Wesel(s) Eijland – Dr. Jan Tent

The Wessel Islands group off the north-eastern coast of Arnhem Land has a rather abstruse history in terms of its naming and ultimate cartographic location. Cartographic evidence, and some primary documentary evidence points to a Wesel(s) Eijland initially referring to an island off the southern coast of present-day West Papua.

Read More »

Gerard Willems – Dutch-Australian piano virtuoso

Gerard Willems AM is a Dutch Australian classical pianist and double ARIA award winner. He came by boat (Grote Beer, Holland-America Lines) with his family in 1958 and went through several years of migrant camp experience. You can see a glimpse of his work here: See also: Gerard Willems Interview:

Read More »

Project Migrant Australian and Dutch emigrants

In February 2023, Australian Ambassador Dr. Greg French and State Archivist Afelonne Doek opened the temporary exhibition People Movement Stories in the Netherlands National Archives in The Hague. Since that time the exhibition has also been travelling to Perth, Brisbane and Melbourne. In the exhibition, twelve people tell the story

Read More »

Author Maria Douwes – Back to Australia

Maria Douwes started her career at Time-Life International, the Book Department. After that she worked at the PR-Departments at De Volkskrant (national newspaper) and the Cinetone Filmstudios. Thereafter she started her own Communication-Organisation Company and made the book’ Noord Nu’ (city district North Amsterdam) with Theo Dohte. For the city

Read More »

CIA Report on the Break-Up of Colonial Empires – 1948

This report recently declassified assesses – in 1948 – the implications of the decolonisation of Africa and Asia for US security. The report – which also mentioned the futile attempts of the Netherlands to hold on to the Netherlands East Indies (now Indonesia) – proofs to be amazingly accurate about

Read More »

Cape Leeuwin Gable Stone in Amsterdam

Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie – VOC – (Dutch East India Company) related gable stone with a lying lioness in the ‘gable stone wall’ at the Oudezijds Kolk in Amsterdam. The stone comes from Kleine Kattenburgerstraat 14/16 and was found there by Van Arkel and Weissman (Noord-Hollandsche Oudheden 6destuk (1903) page 43).

Read More »

The NEI Personnel & Equipment Pool Squadron Canberra – Bundaberg

The establishment of the NEI Personnel & Equipment Pool (PEP) Squadron, initially stationed at RAAF Base in Canberra, resulted from the need to allow Netherlands East Indies (NEI) crews to recover and prepare for upcoming operations after completing their operational tours. Additionally, they required a base to accommodate spare aircraft

Read More »

Dutch-Russian Ace Pilot Iwan Smirnoff (WWII)

Ivan Vasilyevich Smirnov, a Russian pilot born in 1895 during the era of Tsarist Russia, embarked on a remarkable journey through the turbulent times of the 20th century. His life story is a testament to courage, adaptability, and dedication to aviation. Smirnov’s journey into aviation began as a response to

Read More »

Dutch involvement in the Sydney Opera House

The Sydney Opera House, opened on 20 October 1973, and stands tall as an iconic symbol of Australian culture. Queen Elizabeth II officially opened it, emphasising the power of human creativity. The Sydney Symphony Orchestra performed at the official opening, under the direction of Dutchman Willem van Otterloo. The orchestra’s

Read More »

Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie (VOC) and Australia

The Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie (VOC) played a significant role in the exploration and early history of Australia. The relationship between the VOC and Australia can be understood through several key points: Exploration and Mapping: Dutch explorers were among the first Europeans to contact the Australian continent. In, Willem Janszoon, sailing

Read More »

Dutch claims to New Holland and the British colonisation in 1788

November 1786 saw the publication of An Historical Narrative of the Discovery of New Holland and New South Wales, which sought to explain the reasons for the British Government’s decision to establish a settlement at Botany Bay. Although the book was published anonymously, the London publishers, John Fielding and John Stockdale, were

Read More »

Archived: Dutch WWII historian visits Brisbane on 17 November

Presentation on Australian-Dutch WWII events at ANZAC Square & Memorial Galleries Camp Columbia Heritage Association invites you to a presentation by Dutch historian Bas Kreuger on Dutch Australian WWII events on 17 November 2023 at the ANZAC Square & Memorial Galleries. Reservations are limited to 60 persons. Register for free

Read More »

WWII Propaganda Flights from Australia to Java

Propaganda and intelligence gathering. As the Allied Forces were able to push back the Japanese, by 1943, preparations started in Australia to liberate the Netherlands East Indies (NEI). The Netherlands East Indies Government-in-Exile was established in Camp Columbia, Brisbane to coordinate the liberation and reoccupation efforts from here.. In 1943,

Read More »

Almar Zaadstra – Painter of Australian history

Almar Zaadstra is an Australian artist based in Casterton, Victoria. Almar arrived in Australia at the age of 6 in 1966, the 4th of six children born to Sake and Ytje . They left Oudega in Friesland , Netherlands,  to give their boys a brighter future in a new country,

Read More »

Master Lithographer Fred Genis- first celebrity printer in Australia.

Fred Genis (1934 Amersfoort, Netherlands – 2022 Mullumbimby, Australia) was a Master Lithographer and the first celebrity printer in Australia. Genis was a partner in the Hollanders Workshop in New York in the late 60’s, early 70’s, working with artists like Robert Rauschenberg, Willem De Kooning, Sam Francis, Jasper Johns, Larry Rivers

Read More »

The last VOC exploration voyage to Australia – 1756

The text below is a brief summary of a report titled “EXPLORATORY VOYAGE OF THE SHIPS RIJDER AND BUIS, COMMANDED BY LIEUTENANT JEAN ETIENNE GONZAL AND FIRST LAVIENNE LODEWIJK VAN ASSCHENS, TO THE GULF OF CARPENTARIA.” This report was submitted by Gerrit de Haan, the “Master Cartographer” at Batavia, on

Read More »

Sam Roggeveen – Director Lowy Institute

Sam Roggeveen was born in the Netherlands and emigrated with his family to Australia when he was seven years old. Before joining the Lowy Institute, Sam was a senior strategic analyst in Australia’s peak intelligence agency, the Office of National Assessments, where his work dealt mainly with North Asian strategic

Read More »

Er is er een jarig hoera hoera!

A Dutch tribute on the 50th anniversary of the opening of that hallowed hall on the harbour. Willen van Otterloo conducted the Sydney Symphony Orchestra (SSO) for the inaugural concert in front of the Queen. The following year he took the SSO on a world tour. A few contoversies surrounding

Read More »

De Nederlandse Vereniging in Bankstown

The following information was written in 1985. The Club no longer exists This club is at the moment in a kind of transition state. Many of its old members have moved and their children live too far away from Bankstown and have started their own interest groups further away in

Read More »
Dutch Australian Cultural Center Logo

We need your help

Enhancing Dutch Australian Cultural Heritage Together Over the past few years, you have undoubtedly noticed the gradual expansion of Dutch-Australian cultural information within our database. We hold a strong belief in the significance of documenting and safeguarding our Dutch-Australian heritage, with a primary focus on the following areas: To ensure

Read More »

Join us in preserving Dutch-Australian heritage

Are you passionate about preserving and celebrating the rich cultural heritage of Dutch Australians? The Dutch Australian Cultural Centre LTD (DACC) invites you to become a valued volunteer and contribute to the maintenance of our precious resources housed at the Abel Tasman Village in Chester Hill, NSW. Currently, we have

Read More »

Dutch cargo confiscated in Sydney – 1942

In January 1942, based on this document from the Australian National Archives, Dutch cargo from the Norwegian M/S Høegh Silverstar, destined for the Netherlands East Indies (NEI), was confiscated on orders from the American Government in Sydney. According to the ship’s logbook, it departed from San Francisco on November 24,

Read More »

Dutch Jewish refugees met again in Australia

Article about Ruben Rubens and Bob van Ameringen. They were friends in the Netherlands before WWII when their lives were disrupted. They became refugees but eventually, separately, settled in Australia. Here after 50 years they met each other again for the first time.

Read More »

Dutch-Australian painter Henricus van den Houten (1801-1879)

Henricus Leonardus van den Houten (The Hague 1801- Melbourne 1879) was a Dutch-Australian painter, lithographer, and art teacher. He developed a passion for art at a young age. He studied painting and honed his skills under the guidance of renowned Dutch artists, specialising on portrait paintings. He worked in Leiden,

Read More »

Dr. Sir Hendrik Johan Rutgers (1917-1997)

Gedurende de Tweede Wereldoorlog was Henk verzetsstrijder tijdens de Duitse bezetting van Nederland. Na de oorlog werd hij uitgezonden naar Batavia in het voormalige Nederlands Indie als Officier van Justitie bij de berechting van Japanse oorlogsmisdadigers. Hij ontmoette daar voor het eerst Dick van Arkel. Beiden realiseerden dat Australia hen

Read More »

Royal Netherlands State visit to Australia 2016

The state visit of His Majesty King Willem-Alexander and Her Majesty Queen Máxima of the Netherlands to Australia in October/November 2016 was a significant diplomatic event that strengthened the ties between the two countries. Here is some information about their visit: During their visit, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima visited

Read More »

WWII airfields in the Top End used by the Dutch

Australia was ill prepared when it found itself within reach of the Japanese invaders during WWII. The infrastructure especially in the north of the country where the threat was most immediate was very poor or simply didn’t exist. The only reasonable airfield was in Darwin, but nowhere near the level

Read More »

Book review: “Through Darkest Seas” by Graeme Cocks (2023)

Graeme Cocks. Through Darkest Seas. Inglewood: Motoring Past Vintage Publishing, 2023. E-book.  Review by Jorien van Beukering Ever wondered what it would be like to build a replica of a seventeenth-century ship of exploration? If so, look no further than Graeme Cocks’ new book Through Darkest Seas, which tells the

Read More »

Tall ship Oosterschelde leads the Darwin200 Global Voyage.

The DARWIN200 Global Voyage is a two-year voyage that will follow the route of Charles Darwin’s voyage on the HMS Beagle around the world. The voyage will take place from 2023 to 2025 and will visit 32 countries, including the Galapagos Islands, Tahiti, Australia, and South Africa. The voyage is

Read More »

Dr. Cornelius Wouters, champion of Dutch culture.

Dr. Cornelius Willebrod Wouters (18 August 1896, Waspik -20 January 1978, Brunssum). During his youth and early adulthood he moved around the Netherlands. He met his wife in Waalwijk and after several other jobs became a translator for the Dutch National Mines (Staatsmijnen) in Heerlen. He migrated to Australia in

Read More »

Dutch Catholic Hostel in Brisbane

In 1889, German priest and scientist, Arnold Janssen, together with German women Helena Stollenwerk and Hendrina Stenmanns, founded the Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters (in Dutch: “Dienaressen van de Heilige Geest” in German: “Dienerinnen des Heiligen Geistes von der ewigen Anbetung”).  Already in 1875, he had begun the Divine Word Missionary

Read More »

Ir. Haveman Emigration Commissioner 1950-1970

Bastiaan Wouter Haveman was born in 1908 in Wijnjeterp, Friesland. He grew up as a pastor’s son with four brothers and a sister. He obtained his master’s degree in chemical engineering in Delft and subsequently graduated in Dutch law in Leiden. In 1951 he married Louise Hendrika van Loon. Before

Read More »

Australia emigration in Dutch Newspapers 1954-1978

Dr. C Wouters has been the most important person during the emigration period between 1950 and 1980 representing the Dutch emigrants in Australia. He tirelessly advocated for recognition of Dutch culture, history and especially its language. He was a prolific writer of articles and letter to the editors in the

Read More »

Dutch Connection – Dutch Radio for the Illawarra

 By Dr. Yoke Berry from Dutch in Wollongong, released at the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Dutch Connection radio programme. On Sunday the 9th of November 1997, the first Dutch program in the Illawarra was broadcast on the community radio station VOX FM 106.9. For the programmers and listeners

Read More »

Nederlandse Vereniging in NSW (1944-2008)

This is one of the earliest Dutch Clubs in Australia, founded in 1944. The official name was first Nederlandse Vereeniging in Nieuw Zuid Wales (N.Z.W), later documents state Nederlandse Vereniging in NSW and later the more common name was used Nederlandse Vereniging in Sydney or in English Netherlands Society in

Read More »

The Ghosts of Christmas (Island) – Dr. Jan Tent

For some three centuries confusion existed among Europeans over the location and name of the Indian Ocean island now referred to as Christmas Island. Maps appeared charting the island with no name, with one of three names, with two names simultaneously, or as two or three adjacent islands. It was

Read More »

Early Dutch loanwords in the South Pacific

The Polynesian islands share in common the fact that the first European language they came into contact with was the English brought first by Captain Cook, spread by whalers and traders and later consolidated by missionaries. The purpose of the paper below is twofold. First, the authors will present evidence

Read More »

Rose van Bruinessen, Matildas Footballer #10

Rose van Bruinessen (married name Rosemary Moodley), known as Matilda #10, was one of the pioneering figures in women’s football in Australia. She played a significant role as a defender in the early days of the Australian Women’s National Football Team, also known as the Matildas. Unconfirmed information indicates that

Read More »

Dutch names in Australia – Linguist Dr. Jan Tent

Dr Jan Tent was born in Amsterdam, his parents originating from Groningen. Jan’s father worked for IBM in Amsterdam. In 1957 his father was made production manager of the IBM typewriter and punch card plant in Lidcombe (Sydney). The appointment was supposed to be for two years but stretched out

Read More »

Articles, Poems and Letters to the Editor from Dr. C Wouters

Dr. Wouters did not shy away from controversial issues. He refused to swear allegiance to the Queen during his naturalisation ceremony, instead he was allowed to swear on the Bible, something that since that time has been accepted by the Australian Government. He advocated for equality for migrants within various

Read More »

Many awards bestowed on Dr Wouters

Dr. Cornelius Wouters is most likely the internationally most awarded Dutch-Australian. He was awarded the Knighthood in the Order of Oranje-Nassau. He also received the Silver Anjer from the Prins Bernhard Fonds in 1976 for his contribution to the preservation and promotion of Dutch culture in Australia. The Silver Anjer

Read More »

Stephanie Branz – Dutch-Australian Sports-commentator

In this video clip from the National Archives of Australia Stephanie talks about her Dutch heritage. Stephanie Brantz is a television presenter and sports personality from Australia. Born in 1972 in Queensland to Dutch parents to Phillipa and Hans Branz, she began her modeling career in 1985 while attending St

Read More »

New Holland the name for Australia from1644-1824

The name New Holland (Hollandia Novae) appeared on maps depicting the continent of Australia after the Dutch seafarer Abel Tasman charted the west coast of the continent in 1644. According to linguist Dr. Jan Tent (see paper below), the name was probably given to the continent by one of the

Read More »

Peter Zorgdrager established Miniland in Coonabarabran

Miniland was a theme park in Coonabarabran, New South Wales, Australia. It was opened in 1972 by Peter Zorgdrager, a Dutch immigrant who was inspired by Dusneyland. The park featured a variety of giant sculptures, including dinosaurs, animals, and landmarks from around the world. It also had a children’s playground,

Read More »

Dutch emigration literature in Australia

In previous months we have highlighted Dutch literature in Australia and we continue this month with another collection of interesting and often forgotten books. However, some will recall nostalgic memories from those who arrives as children or as emigrants from the 1950s and 1960s. Land in de verte – 1952

Read More »

Commissioner for Emigration Nederland 1948-1967

The Regeringscommissaris voor de Emigratie was a government commissioner for emigration who was appointed by the Dutch government in 1948 to coordinate and stimulate the emigration of Dutch citizens to other countries, especially after World War II. The commissioner was responsible for providing information, advice and assistance to potential emigrants,

Read More »

Dutch Submarine K-XVIII Visits Fremantle in 1935

The Dutch submarine K-XVIII made a historic visit to Fremantle in 1935. It was the first Dutch submarine to ever visit the port, and it helped to strengthen the ties between the Netherlands and Australia. The K-XVIII arrived in Fremantle on 13 April 1935, after a long journey from the

Read More »

Dutch Naval Visit to Australia in 1930

A Dutch naval squadron visited Australia in 1930, led by Rear Admiral C.C. Kaijser on the light cruiser HNLMS Java with the destroyers De Ruyter and Evertsen. The following ports were visited successively: Fremantle, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Wellington, Auckland, Brisbane, Boela (New Guinea) and Ambon. On November 28, the squadron

Read More »

The DACC Library Collection  

The DACC Library has a collection of books, magazines, CD’s,  DVD’s and VHS tapes. Most are not yet in the online data base. The table below lists the categories and the number of books and magazines in each category.  Please contact the DACC for further information.

Read More »

Elizabeth Stukkien author of Hartog’s children

Elizabeth Stukkien was born in 1942 in the Netherlands and emigrated to Australia in 1971 with her husband and four children. She worked as a teacher and a librarian in Perth and Brisbane. She died in 2017 in Brisbane and was survived by her husband, children and grandchildren. Hartog’s kinderen

Read More »

WWII Naval Commander Australia Pieter Koenraad

Koenraad, Pieter, naval officer (born in Dirksland 6-6-1890 – died in Las Palmas in the Canary Islands 22-2-1968). Son of Johannes Adrianus Koenraad, headteacher, and Alida Elizabeth de Graaff. Married on 5-5-1923 to Catharina Cornelia van Trooijen, which marriage was dissolved by divorce on 12-9-1930 by judgment of the Council

Read More »

Rear Admiral Coster revisits the Dutch war effort from Australia.

Parliamentary inquiry into government policy 1940-1945 This parliamentary inquiry focused  on the government policy of the cabinets De Geer, Gerbrandy and  Schermerhorn, since the German invasion of the Netherlands on 10 May 1940   and  in relation to Netherlands East indies (NEI) the war with Japan until the opening of the

Read More »

Emigration on the MS Sibajak

The MS Sibajak was a passenger ship named after Mount Sibayak, a volcano located in Sumatra, Indonesia. It was built at the Koninklijke Maatschappij “De Schelde” shipyard in Vlissingen, Netherlands. The ship was initially constructed for the N.V. Koninklijke Paketvaart-Maatschappij (KPM), a Dutch shipping company that operated in the Dutch

Read More »

Celebrating Rembrandt: True to life – at NGV Melbourne

The National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) in Melbourne  is presenting an exhibition dedicated to the work of seventeenth-century Dutch master Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn. Rembrandt: True to life follows the work of Rembrandt from early work in Leiden through to his final years in Amsterdam, with more than 100 works

Read More »

Dutch-Indonesian-Australian Geophysicist and artist William Wiebenga

William Alexander Christiaan Johannes Wiebenga was an Indonesian-Dutch-Australian geophysicist and artist. He was born in Benkoelen, Indonesia (now known as Bengkulu, Indonesia) on December 5, 1910. His father with the same name, William Alexander Christiaan Johannes Wiebenga, was a Dutch civil servant. His mother Jeanne Helene de Rochemont was born

Read More »

Australian Actor Anthony LaPaglia has Dutch Ancestry

Maria Johannes Brendel is a secretary and the mother of Australian actor Anthony LaPaglia. She is originally from the Netherlands and has Dutch ethnicity. Her husband Gedio “Eddie” LaPaglia, emigrated from Bovalino, Province of Reggio Calabria, Italy. They had two other sons, the Australian actor Jonathan LaPaglia and Michael LaPaglia,

Read More »

Royal Netherlands Navy (Koninklijke Marine) in Australia

Unlike the Netherlands East Indies (NEI) Army and its Air Force, the Koninklijke Marine (KM – Royal Netherlands Navy) that operated in NEI, was part of the Dutch Navy. They resorted under the Minister for the Navy at the Dutch Government-in-Exile in London. By mid February, the Governor the Netherlands

Read More »

Emigratie Commissie of the Nederlandse Vrouwen Comité

The Emigratie Commissie was a committee of the Nederlandse Vrouwen Comité (NVC – Dutch Women’s Council). The Emigration Commission of the Dutch Women’s Council, was an organisation in the Netherlands that focused on assisting women and families with the process of emigrating to other countries. The committee operated during the

Read More »

Stichting Landverhuizing Nederland (Foundation for Emigration Netherlands) – 1913-1967

The Nederlandse Vereniging Landverhuizing (Netherlands Association Emigration) was established in 1913 to promote Dutch emigration. It merged with the Emigration Centre Holland (Emigratie Centrale Holland) in 1931 and formed the Netherlands Emigration Foundation (Stichting Landverhuizing Nederland). The foundation was renamed the Dutch Emigration Service (Nederlandse Emigratiedienst) in 1952. The foundation

Read More »

Dutch Football Club Austral Sydney

Dutch Football Club Austral was a soccer club that was founded in Sydney by a group of Dutch immigrants, under the name Hollandia at the Black Tulip Restaurant in George Street in 1949. Its restaurateur David Bos became the first president and also was its main sponsor. The first game

Read More »

Van Diemen’s Land became Tasmania 1642-1856

The name Van Diemen’s Land was given to the island of Tasmania by the Dutch explorer Abel Tasman in 1642, in honour of Anthony van Diemen, the Governor General of the Dutch East Indies who had sent him on his voyage. The name was used by the British settlers who

Read More »

The entrepreneurial Sypkes family in Tasmania

It all started with Engel Sypkes, an Australian businessman who migrated from the Netherlands to Tasmania in 1951. Shortly after his arrival, he opened a small general store in Stanley. After a trip to the United States, Sypkes was exposed to modern merchandising methods, which inspired him to open his

Read More »

Book: Onder schoolkinderen en andere verhalen – 1963

This book is a collection of short stories by Henk Romijn Meijer, a Dutch novelist, anglist and essayist who wrote with an English kind of irony. The stories are partly based on his experience as a teacher of French in Melbourne, Australia. The title story, Onder schoolkinderen (Among schoolchildren), depicts

Read More »

Hilma Dymphna Lodewyckx  married to Manning Clark.

Hilma Dymphna Lodewyckx (1916-2000) was the daughter of Augustin Lodewyckx and Anna Sophia Hansen. She was born in Stellenbosch, South Africa and later moved to Melbourne, Australia with her family when her father was appointed lecturer at the University of Melbourne. She mainly used her middle name Dymphna. Her father

Read More »

The Indisch Dutch in post-war Australia

Recalling the Indies: Colonial Culture and Postcolonial Identities. This is an article written by Dr Joost Coté, Monash University (Australia) and published in June 2010 in the “Tijdschrift voor Sociale en Economische Geschiedenis” Abstract. This article considers how the Indisch Dutch related to post-war Australia. After establishing the definitional and

Read More »

Book: Australia and New Zealand – 1965

“Australië en Nieuw-Zeeland” is the Dutch translation of the book “Australia and New Zealand” written by Colin MacInnes in collaboration with the editors of LIFE magazine. The translation was done by Anna R. Wierdsma. The Dutch book was published in Amsterdam by Het Parool in 1965. Colin MacInnes was a

Read More »

Book: Land in de verte – 1952

The book is a novel by Nevil Shute, published in English as The Far Country in 1952. The book is set in post-war England and Australia, and it tells the story of Jennifer Morton, a young woman who inherits some money from her grandfather and decides to visit her cousin

Read More »

“Australië” – “A Book of Australia” 1962

“A Book of Australia” by Tom Inglis Moore. The Dutch-language edition of “A Book of Australia” was translated by J.J.A. Bakker. The book was published in a hardcover edition and has a dust jacket. The front cover of the dust jacket features a painting of the Australian outback by the

Read More »

Information from the Dutch Emigration Service – 1953

Nederlandse Emigratiedienst, Australië. Dagelijks leven van emigranten tegen de achtergrond der Australische economie. Recente emigrantenbrieven, aangevuld met enkele belangrijke artikelen, welke de laatste tijd over Australië het licht zagen, themanummer van: Leven en Werken in den Vreemde. Actualiteiten ten behoeve van de Emigratie-voorlichting. Uitgave Nederlandse Emigratiedienst, 12 sept. 1953 This

Read More »

Podcast: ” Australië tot nu toe” SBS Dutch

Historicus Ingeborg van Teeseling bespreekt maandelijks een onderwerp uit de Australische geschiedenis. Van de na-oorlogse migratie stroom en de controverse omtrent Australia Day tot de herkomst van ‘single sex’ scholen. Historian Ingeborg van Teeseling discusses a topic from Australian history every month. From the post-war migration tide and the Australia

Read More »

Dutch in Victoria – Henk Overberg

Dr. Henk Overberg was a Senior Lecturer, School of Australian and International Studies at Deakin University, Melbourne and an academic researcher at Victoria College, Melbourne. He specialised in ethnic research and researched the history and culture of the Dutch community in Victoria, Australia. He is the author of several publications relevant the

Read More »

Frank Leddy reorganised Philips Australasia

By Hans Overberg Franciscus Nicolaas Leddy (1903-1964), company director, was born on 20 April 1903 at Rotterdam, the Netherlands, son of Franciscus Nicolaas Leddy, director of prisons, and his wife Cornelia, née Delabrie. Educated at Leiden high school and the Nederlandse Economische Hogeschool, Rotterdam, young Leddy began his professional career

Read More »

A Dutch journalist’s view of Australia in the 1950s

Mathieu Smedts was a Dutch journalist, writer and resistance fighter who became famous as the editor-in-chief of the political weekly magazine Vrij Nederland. He was born in 1913 in a small village in Limburg, a Catholic province in the south of the Netherlands. He wanted to become a priest, but

Read More »

Gids voor Australië en Nieuw-Zeeland – 1997

“Gids voor Australië en Nieuw-Zeeland” by A. J. van Zuilen. It was published in 1997 by J.H. Gottmer and is a Dutch guidebook for travelers to Australia and New Zealand. The book has 430 pages and includes maps and illustrations. It covers the geography, history, culture, attractions, and practical information

Read More »

Book: Nationale parken in Australië – 2000

The book ” National Parks in Australia” by Ron Moon was published in 2000 by Könemann and translated into Dutch by Jacques Meerman. The book covers 50 national parks across the country, from the tropical rainforests of Queensland to the rugged mountains of Tasmania. It includes information on the history,

Read More »

Study: Why potential emigrants cancelled their plans – 1959

Regeringscommissaris voor de Emigratie, Bureau Onderzoekingen, Annulering van emigratie. Een onderzoek bij 500 Australië-units naar de redenen, waarom zij van emigratie afzagen. ’s-Gravenhage: Regeringscommissaris voor de Emigratie, Bureau Onderzoekingen, 1959. This is a title of a report published in 1959 by the Regeringscommissaris voor de Emigratie, Bureau Onderzoekingen (Government Commissioner for Emigration,

Read More »

Dutch Society Neerlandia of WA Inc.

The earlier Dutch migrants that arrived in the late 1940’s had made several attempts to establish Dutch clubs in WA, such as the Dirck Hartogh Society and the Australian Dutch League, but these all folded after a short while. But during the early 1950’s the Dutch migrants arrived in larger

Read More »

Book: Toen wij uit Nederland vertrokken – 1983

Nelly de Rijk-Zaat, ‘Toen wij uit Nederland vertrokken’. Ervaringen van Nederlandse emigranten in Australië. ’s-Gravenhage: Katholieke Vereniging van Ouders en Familieleden van Geëmigreerden, [1983] This is a book that contains the experiences of Dutch emigrants in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Brazil, South Africa and France. The book is edited by

Read More »

Book: “Australië – 1968

Rohan Rivett, Australië, [vert. van: Australia. London: Oxford University Press, 1968, door J.N.H. Gevers Leuven-Dijkstra]. Nijkerk: Callenbach, 1969 is a book that provides an overview of Australia’s history, geography, culture and society. It covers topics such as Australia’s physical features, climate, flora and fauna, population, economy and history The book

Read More »

Girl’s book: Het geluk is vlakbij – 1956

Het geluk is vlakbij (Happiness is nearby) by Lenie Stafleu-Kruikemeier, a Dutch author. The book was first published in 1956 by Callenbach and has illustrations by Hans Borrebach. It was reprinted in 1981. The somewhat stubborn nineteen-year-old parentless Inge thinks she is too much mothered by her older married sisters

Read More »

Jan Wakker jockey

Jan Wakker was a Dutch-Australian jockey who had a successful career in horse racing. He was born on January 10, 1943, in Groningen, and emigrated to Australia in 1950.  His family settled in Moe. Fred Wakker (Jan’s father) found a racing pigeon in the family loft and decided to chase

Read More »

The Alssema Milk Factory in Perth

The Alssema family is a Dutch family who emigrated to Australia in the early 1900s. The family patriarch, Jan Alssema, was born in Nieuw-Lekkerland in 1865. He married Geertruida van der Meer (born in 1871 in Hardinxveld-Giessendam) in 1889, and they had six children together. In 1903, the Alssema family

Read More »

Dutch Folk Dancing Group

Dr. Cornelis Wouters was the founder of the Dutch Folk Dance Group, a group of over 30 enthusiastic Dutch immigrants (later joined by Australians who married Dutch immigrants). They performed folkloric dances at charitable association gatherings. No other group could boast such original national costumes, as all Dutch regional costumes

Read More »

Captain Fideldij Commander 18 Squadron (NEI) RAAF

Bernardus Jacobus Fiedeldij was born on February 25, 1907 in Amsterdam, Netherlands to Jacobus Fiedeldij and Maria van der Laan. He had two brothers, Hendrik and Willem, and one sister, Catharina. His parents were both from Amsterdam. His father was a carpenter and his mother was a homemaker. They were

Read More »

Surf Champion Dorothy de Rooy

Dorothy De Rooy (Vidgen) is a former professional surfer and champion who was born in Breda, Netherlands in 1948. When she was three years old, her family immigrated to Australia, and they eventually settled in Mona Vale, where her maternal grandparents were already living. Dorothy attended Mona Vale Public School

Read More »

Journalist and publisher Jan Rempt

‘Aan de rand der wereld. Een Hollandse emigrant in Australië’ with a foreword written by B.W. Haveman, Regeringscommissaris voor de Emigratie (Government Commissioner for Emigration) was published in Dokkum by Schaafsma & Brouwer in 1953. The book is written by Jan D. Rempt, a Dutch journalist who immigrated to Australia

Read More »

Footballer John “Jack” Pannenburg

John “Jack” Pannenburg was born in1946 in Arnhem, the Netherlands. His family immigrated to Australia when he was young, and he grew up in Mount Gambier, South Australia. Pannenburg was a talented footballer, and he joined West Adelaide Football Club in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL) in 1966.

Read More »

The18 Squadron NEI RAAF moves to McDonald Airfield, NT

Burkholder Field (sometimes referred to as Burkeholder), later known as McDonald Airfield (sometimes incorrectly referred to as MacDonald), was located 10 miles north west of Pine Creek in the Northern Territory. The airfield was built by Company “A” and HQ Detachment of the 808th Engineer Aviation Battalion from 11 May to 16 July 1942

Read More »

Book: Australia, Her Heritage, Her Future – 1950

“Zó is Australië, land en volk” by Paul McGuire. It is a Dutch translation of the book “Australian Journey” originally written by J.L. van Tijn and published in London and Toronto by Heinemann in 1939. The Dutch edition was published by Heinemann in The Hague in 1950. The book explores

Read More »

Children’s book: Australisch avontuur – 1958

The book is titled Australisch avontuur, which means Australian adventure in English. It is a children’s book that tells the story of a Dutch boy who emigrates to Australia with his family and experiences various adventures in his new country. The author is H. te Merwe, a pseudonym of Nicolaas

Read More »

Emigration survey: Inpakken en wegwezen? – 1981

Ministerie van Sociale Zaken, Inpakken en wegwezen? Een onderzoek naar kenmerken en motieven van emigranten naar Australië, Canada en Nieuw-Zeeland. Onderzoek verricht door het Ministerie van Sociale Zaken met medewerking van het Instituut voor Psychologisch Marktonderzoek te Rotterdam en de Nederlandse Stichting voor Statistiek te ’s-Gravenhage. Den Haag: Ministerie van

Read More »

Adrian van Leest – potato king

Adrian van Leest was born in the Netherlands, where his father had a community garden plot. When the family moved to Australia in 1955, they lived in Creswick, Victoria, on a large block cultivated by Adrian from one end to the other. He was given a small allotment of nine

Read More »

Baukje den Exter -Bathurst Migrant Camp

We have copied this information from the “Belongings Website” as that website has been archived. This was part of a collaborative project between the Migration Heritage Centre and Tweed River Regional Museum. Boukje was interviewed by: Immy McKiernan, Tweed River Regional Museum Boukje van Exter Cultural background: Dutch Place of

Read More »

Stichting Emigrantenbelangen – 1952

The Stichting Emigrantenbelangen (Foundation for Emigrants’ Interests) was founded in 1952 in The Hague, with the aim of providing free advice and assistance to emigrants, in addition to the work of official agencies and confessional emigration centers. The foundation had its central office in Bazarstaat 16 in The Hague. The foundation

Read More »

Children’s book: Zeven kleine Australiërs – 1896

‘Zeven kleine Australiërs’ by Ethel Turner is a classic children’s novel about the adventures and misfortunes of seven siblings who live on a farm in Australia. It is originally written in English and published in 1894 under the title ‘Seven Little Australians’. It is translated and edited by Marie ten

Read More »

Emigranten en andere verhalen – 1933

It is published by Elsevier in Amsterdam in 1933. The book is written by Madelon Székely-Lulofs, a Dutch writer and journalist who was born in Indonesia and later moved to Hungary with her second husband, László Székely, a Hungarian planter and writer. She is best known for her novels about

Read More »

Book: Two Ways Meet: Stories of Migrants in Australia – 1967

The book Two Ways Meet: Stories of Migrants in Australia is a collection of 16 short stories by different authors who share their experiences of migrating to Australia from various countries and cultures. The stories explore themes such as identity, belonging, adaptation, discrimination, and integration. Some of the stories are

Read More »

Book: Australië by journalist Verberne – 1950

P.E.H.M. Verberne was a Dutch journalist and author. He was born in 1904 in Amsterdam, and died in 1968. He was a member of the Dutch resistance during World War II, and was imprisoned in a concentration camp for a time. After the war, he worked as a journalist for

Read More »

Frisian book: Legge Hannen by Djoke Weening-Meijer – 1987

Djoke Weening-Meijer (1920-1990) is a Dutch writer who was born in Drachten, Friesland, in 1949. She studied Dutch language and literature at the University of Groningen, and after graduating she worked as a teacher and journalist. She is a member of the Royal Dutch Academy of Sciences (KNAW). She lives

Read More »

Taeke Cnossen – Reformed Emigration Vereeniging

Taeke Cnossen (Idzega, June 20, 1896 – Leeuwarden, January 12, 1988) was a Dutch journalist. He was editor of the reformed Friesch Dagblad (1919-1921) and the anti-revolutionary daily De Standaard (1921-1943). He was one of the co-founders of the Reformed Emigration Vereeniging (GEV), founded on November 23, 1927. After a

Read More »

Book: Always more potato – 1951

Petronella E. Wilson is the author of a book titled Always more potato. From Deventer to Tallangatta. An Olthof family history, which was published by Wilson in Mooroopna, Victoria, Australia in 1996. The book is a family history of the Olthof family, who emigrated from Deventer, Netherlands to Tallangatta, Australia

Read More »

Children’s Book: De dans van de wilde bij – 1997

Thea Klein Schiphorst-Witteveenn is the author of a book titled De dans van de wilde bij, which was published by Callenbach in Baarn in 1997. The book is a children’s book about a 13-year-old girl named Saskia who emigrates with her family from the Netherlands to Australia and has to

Read More »

Australië. Het nieuwe vaderland – 1954

Australië. Het nieuwe vaderland is a travel guide and cultural introduction to Australia and New Zealand, written by E. en B. Degrood and published by Zomer en Keuning in Wageningen in 1954. The book provides information on geography, history, economy, society, and customs, and is illustrated with photographs and maps.

Read More »

Book: Op weg naar de toekomst – 1954

Klaas van der Geest (Schiermonnikoog, 27 november 1903-10 oktober 1964). Op weg naar de toekomst. Nijkerk: Callenbach, [1954] (2e dr. 1979; ook verschenen als grote-letter-boek (Eindhoven: Grootdruk-uitgeverij, 1989). Klaas van der Geest, Towards the future. Nijkerk: Callenbach, [1954] (2nd edition 1979; also published as a large-print book (Eindhoven: Grootdruk-uitgeverij, 1989).

Read More »

Children’s book: De Zevende Hemel – 1977

De zevende hemel is the name of a neighborhood café. In that café Lize comes home after a long stay in Australia where her father had an important position at a large factory. When Lize said goodbye to her playmate Mazzel she was an innocent little girl. When Lize sees

Read More »

Textile artist Annemieke Mein

Annemieke Mein was born in Haarlem, in 1944. Her Dutch heritage has had a significant influence on her art. Growing up in the Netherlands had a profound impact on her appreciation for nature and the environment. She spent much of her childhood exploring her grandparents’ garden in the Netherlands and

Read More »

Dr. Cornelis Wouters and the Dutch language

In the 1950s, Dr. Cornelis Wouters advocated for more attention to be given to the culture of the countries from which many immigrants had settled in Australia, in the country’s education system. He argued that this could be achieved by broadening the curriculum to include lessons in languages other than

Read More »

Netball champion Ingrid Huisken

Ingrid Huisken is a Dutch-Australian former netball player who had a successful career playing for both Australia and the Netherlands. She was born on January 16, 1961, in Leiden. Her family migrated to Australia when she was 12 years old in 1973. Ingrid began her netball career playing for the

Read More »

Vossie’s Supermarkets in Tasmania

Roelf Vos was a successful Australian businessman and philanthropist, born on a boat in Bergum (later Burgum), the Netherlands, on 4 October 1921. During World War II, he was involved in the Dutch Resistance and had to hide from German forces. After the war, he opened a drapery store in

Read More »

Peter Tangelder discus throwing champion.

Peter Tangelder is a former Dutch-Australian discus thrower who had a successful career in the sport. He was born on December 13, 1958, in the Netherlands, and migrated to Australia in the early 1980s. Tangelder was a member of the Australian athletics team for several years and competed in many

Read More »

Christel van der Laan: A Contemporary Jeweller

Christel van der Laan is a contemporary jeweller based in Perth, Western Australia. She was born in 1963 in Son en Breugel, the Netherlands, and moved to Australia in 1981. She graduated from Edith Cowan University in Perth with a Bachelor of Arts in Contemporary Fashion and Jewellery Design in

Read More »

Manon van Kouswijk – jeweler

Manon van Kouswijk, a Dutch artist born in 1967, has been residing and creating in Melbourne since 2010. She received her education at the Gerrit Rietveld Academy in Amsterdam, where she later became the Head of the Jewellery department from 2007 to 2010. Central to Manon’s artistic approach is her

Read More »

16 Dutch books from the emigration Period

Books about Dutch girls in Australia (1960s) Dutch Children’s book”: “Stel je voor dat ik ging emigreren” Children’s book – Stampende hoeven. Tom Hoekstra als veedrijver in Australië Children’s book: Tula, de kleine houtsnijder Children’s book: Zes weken op de boot (Six weeks on the boat) Children’s book: Emigrante tegen

Read More »

Books about Dutch girls in Australia (1960s)

Catharina Fenne Charlotte (Tine) Jager-Meursing was a Dutch author who wrote several books for children and young adults. She was born in 1891 in Amsterdam, and she died in Amersfoort in 1979. Jager-Meursing’s books are known for their humor, their heartwarming stories, and their positive messages. She was a popular

Read More »

Children’s book: Tula, de kleine houtsnijder (1956)

Tula, de kleine houtsnijder (Tula, the Little Woodcarver) is a children’s book written by S. Franke and illustrated by G. van Straaten. It was published by Kluitman in Alkmaar, the Netherlands, in 1956. The book tells the story of Tula, a young Aboriginal boy who lives in the Australian bush.

Read More »

Dutch Women Share Their Emigration Stories – 1960

A book published by the Emigratie Commissie van het Nederlandse Vrouwen Comité (Emigration Committee of the Dutch Women’s Committee) features writings by emigrant women who share their experiences from afar. The book, titled “Ons tweede huis: Emigrantenvrouwen schrijven van verre” (Our Second Home: Emigrant Women Writing from Afar), was released

Read More »

Emigration Commission of the Dutch Women’s Committee

The Emigration Commissieloon of the Dutch Women’s Committee, or in Dutch, “Emigratie Commissie van het Nederlandse Vrouwen Comité,” was an organisation dedicated to supporting Dutch women in the emigration process. The committee was active during a time when emigration from the Netherlands to other countries, such as Australia, Canada, and

Read More »

Historical novel “De Coopers van Sydney”- 1962

De Coopers van Sydney (The Coopers from Sydney) is a Dutch historical novel by E. Eichholtz, first published in 1962. The novel tells the story of a group of Dutch coopers who travel to Sydney, Australia, in the early 19th century. The coopers are hired to build a new brewery,

Read More »

De Australiër (The Northerner) – 1954

De Australiër, is authorised translation of The Northerner, 1954, written by Joan Colebook and translated by Hans de Vries. Den Haag: Zuid-Hollandsche Uitgeversmaatschappij, 1963. The Northerner by Joan Colebrook is a historical novel set in North Queensland, Australia, in the late 19th century. The novel tells the story of the

Read More »

They Came to Australia: An Anthology – 1962

“They Came to Australia: An Anthology” is a book edited by Alan Brissenden and Charles Higham. Published in 1962 by Angus and Robertson, it is a collection of writings that highlights the experiences of various individuals who came to Australia. The anthology aims to provide a diverse and comprehensive perspective

Read More »

The Duyfken – hosts the Compagnie Batavia

Scroll down for the picture gallery of the Compagnie Batavia sailing on the Duyfken on Sydney Harbour – May 2023 The first documented and undisputed European sighting of and landing in Australia was in late February 1606, by the Dutch navigator Willem Janszoon aboard the Duyfken. Janszoon charted the Australian

Read More »

Dutch-Australian photographer Richard Woldendorp

This article is written with the assistance of Richard’s wife Lyn she also made the photo selection below. Lyn is a photo librarian and has been doing this for 60 years.  Richard Woldendorp was born in Utrecht, Holland on the 1st January 1927, and lived for some time in Leeuwarden

Read More »

Unilever and the Australian link to the rise of margarine.

In 1869, a French chemist named Hippolyte Mège-Mouriès invented a spread made from beef tallow and skimmed milk that he called “margarine.” Margarine was initially viewed with suspicion and was slow to catch on in Europe, but by the late 19th century, it had become popular as a cheaper alternative

Read More »