Dutch Culture, Sport, and Religion in Australia
Theo and Eef ten Brummelaar – Helga’s story added
Theo and Eef ten Brummelaar were among the initiators of Dutch Radio in Australia.
Maritime History
Dirk Hartog: the first European to land on Australian soil
Dirk Hartog (1580–1621) was a Dutch sea captain and explorer whose 1616 voyage marked the first recorded European landing on Australia’s western coast. His journey left an enduring legacy in maritime history and Australian heritage. Early life and maritime career Read more
Military and Political History
Dutch internees from Japanese camps and POWs received medical recuperation in Australia
There were some of 42 000 Dutch military and naval personnel and 100 000 Dutch civilians who were captured when the Japanese conquered the Netherlands East Indies in early 1942. After the War around 6,000 internees and Dutch POWs who needed immediate medical assistance were brought to Australia where they were allowed to recuperate for between 3 to 6 months, after which they were either repatriated to the Netherlands or went back to Netherlands East Indies.
Aviation and Shipping
The Steam Ship Volendam (1947) and the Motor Ship Volendam (2009) to Australia
The Steam Ship Volendam was a 15,434 GRT ton ocean liner operated by Holland America Line (Nederlandsch-Amerikaansche Stoomvaart Maatschappij). She was built in 1922 by Harland & Wolff Ltd, in Govan, Glasgow. The ship was purchased by Holland America Line Read more
Aviation and Shipping
Dutch immigrant ship Willem Ruys
Royal Rotterdamsche Lloyd (then Nedlloyd and now part of Maersk) started building the ship in 1938. The company was in the process to replace the aging fleet of ships on the Dutch East Indies route, her keel was laid in Read more
Aviation and Shipping
Dutch immigrant ships to Australia
More individual information is available on the DACC database (see links below). The major ships bringing Dutch migrants to Australia include: Remembering the Dutch Ships contribution for the defence of Australia. Dutch passenger liners such as the MV Johan van Read more
Migration history
Dutch immigration to Australia, history, stats and other resources
History Already in the 1800 we see Dutch people settling in Australia. A rather famous early immigrant was Willem Hendrik Paling who settled in Sydney in 1853. He established music stores in Sydney and Brisbane, wrote music, was a teacher Read more
Migration history
Adriana Zevenbergen – 100,000th Dutch emigrant to Australia
Adriana Zevenbergen, Australia’s 100,000th Dutch migrant, excited to start unpacking after arriving in Melbourne, 1958. The 50,000th Dutch migrant arrived had arrived in 1954.
Aviation and Shipping
WWI could have seen a different outcome for Australia and Netherlands
After the Franco-Prussian war in 1870/1871 – in which my grandfather fought – two important developments happened: This put Germany right in competition with Britain who was the global superpower of the day. Germany had a great (Prussian) army but Read more
