“Anna’s War” is the debut young adult historical fiction novel by Australian author DJ Taylor. Set in German-occupied southern Netherlands during the final 18 months of World War II, the story follows 14-year-old Anna Jansen as she navigates a world Read more
Jack Verschuren arrived in Western Australia from the Netherlands in 1954, part of the post-war wave of Dutch migrants seeking new opportunities and a better life. Settling in Northam, a regional centre in the Wheatbelt, Jack quickly became a prominent Read more
The story of the van der Veeken family reflects the enduring contribution of Dutch migrants to Australian football, spanning two generations of commitment to the game in South Australia. Born in The Hague, Jan van der Veeken arrived in Australia Read more
In the immediate aftermath of World War II, the Netherlands faced a monumental challenge. While its homeland lay in ruins after years of occupation, it also had to grapple with re-establishing authority and humanitarian order in its colony, the Netherlands Read more
During World War II, the SS Tasman, a Dutch steamship operated by the Koninklijke Paketvaart Maatschappij (KPM), became part of an extraordinary Dutch Australian connection. From wartime evacuations and military support to post-war links between the Netherlands East Indies (NEI) Read more
In reviewing the article Ripples of Decolonisation in the Asia-Pacific by Charles Hawksley and Rowena Ward (2019), I was struck by how closely its themes intersect with lesser-known Dutch–Australian wartime and postwar connections. While the article does not focus on Read more
The Wilhelmina Fund, established by Ringwood City Soccer Club in 2019, is a standout example of how a proud Dutch-Australian football club continues to honour its heritage while supporting its local community. Ringwood City SC was founded by Dutch migrants Read more
Tony te Wierik was one of the foundational players of Fortuna ’60 Soccer Club in Morwell, Victoria – known affectionately as the Orangemen, proudly reflecting their Dutch heritage and orange team colours. Tony arrived in Australia in the mid-1950s as Read more
In 1943, three young Dutch men—Gerrit Henneken (19), his brother Jaap (18), and their friend Dirk Keijzer (19)—became part of the millions of men and women subjected to forced and enslaved labour in Nazi Germany. What followed was a harrowing Read more
Still Recovering by Maria H.J. Butler is a poignant and personal memoir that offers a unique insight into the post-war Dutch migrant experience in Australia. The book captures the childhood memories of a Dutch, Catholic, New Australian girl growing up Read more