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 Read more
Westlanders in Australia is a documentary that tells the story of the Looyen family’s migration to Australia, as seen through the eyes of three generations. This “ordinary Dutch family” built a new life in Australia by establishing their own business Read more
The HNLMS Abraham Crijnssen, a Dutch minesweeper famed for its remarkable escape from the Japanese-occupied Netherlands East Indies by disguising itself as a tropical island, reached Australia in March 1942. After a refit and the installation of new ASDIC equipment, the vessel Read more
Prof Dr Hinze Hogendoorn is a leading Dutch cognitive neuroscientist whose research explores how the brain constructs real-time conscious experiences. With an academic journey spanning the Netherlands, the UK, the US, and Australia, he has become a global expert in Read more
With a hat tip to Tony Cunneen in Sydney, we were made aware of a folder in the National Archives of Australia: Netherlands Legation – Tasman Tercentennial (NAA: A6661.180). It begins with suggestions made in April 1942 to find an Read more
Peter Sitsen (Bergen op Zoom, November 1, 1885 – Sydney, January 21, 1945) , a Dutch architect and civil administrator, played a pivotal role in establishing the Netherlands Indies Civil Administration (NICA) in Brisbane during World War II. Known for his Read more
Sailors Boesidien and Samanuddin were members of the Netherlands Merchant Navy during World War II and are interred at Toowong Cemetery in Brisbane. Their service highlights the significant role of Dutch merchant vessels in the Allied efforts in the Pacific. Read more
Prof Dr Frans Verstraten is a leading Dutch experimental psychologist whose career spans multiple continents and academic institutions. From his early education in the Netherlands to his influential role in Australia, his work has shaped the field of psychology, particularly Read more
Following the fall of Singapore in February 1942, Japanese forces advanced into the Netherlands East Indies (NEI), marking a significant turning point in World War II and signaling the decline of British colonial influence in the region. Aware that the Read more
The Dutch submarine K IX, later known as HMAS K9, was a K VIII-class vessel constructed for the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNN) in the early 20th century. Ordered on 27 June 1917, she was laid down at the Koninklijke Maatschappij Read more