Dutch migrants help shape a growing coastal community In the years following the Second World War, thousands of Dutch migrants arrived in Australia in search of new opportunities. Many brought skills in engineering, construction, manufacturing and agriculture, while others came with their families hoping to establish a better future after Read more
Mattheus Jacob Bons, known as Theo, was born in Sliedrecht on 2 October 1920. He was the son of Pieter Cornelis Bons, a contractor and dredgemaster, and Antje Francijna de Haan. On 24 May 1949, Theo married Martina Meinsje Smits in Sliedrecht. Martina, known in Australia as Tinie, was born Read more
Teunis “Teun” van Genderen was born in Sliedrecht on 25 January 1918. He was the son of Teunis van Genderen and Johanna Nederlof. His father died in Lüneburg, Germany, on 17 May 1945, shortly after the liberation, and is remembered among Sliedrecht’s wartime victims. Around 1938, Teunis married Cornelia Johanna Read more
Pieter “Piet” van Wijngaarden was born in Sliedrecht on 24 September 1922. He was the son of Marinus van Wijngaarden, an engineer, and Antje Visser. Pieter became an assistant dredgemaster and worked in tin dredging for the NV Billiton Maatschappij. Before travelling to Australia, Pieter and his wife, Martina Cornelia Read more
Bernardus Johannes Meertens was born in Kruiningen, Zeeland, on 29 April 1920. He was the son of Leendert Jacobus Meertens and Geertruid Elsman. On 22 June 1950, Bernardus departed from Schiphol aboard the first KLM flight carrying Dutch workers associated with the organised dredging project in Australia. He occupied seat Read more
On 22 July 1950, Pieter Snoey, known as Peter, departed from Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport aboard the KLM flight carrying Dutch workers and family members to Australia. He occupied seat G2 and arrived in Sydney on 26 July, following several intermediate stops. Peter’s presence on this flight places him among the Read more
Karel Frederik Lodewijk Morlang was born in Vlissingen on 3 December 1919, the son of Jan Morlang and Catharina de Buck. His father served as a sailor and victualling steward with the Royal Netherlands Navy, and Karel later followed him into naval service. On 29 July 1943, Karel married Agnes Read more
Jan Cornelis Maasland was born in Brandwijk, South Holland, on 17 March 1926. He was the son of Gerrit Maasland, born in Molenaarsgraaf in 1891, and Clara de Ruijter, born in Bleskensgraaf en Hofwegen in 1896. On 22 July 1950, Jan departed from Schiphol aboard the KLM flight carrying Dutch Read more
Dirk Hartman Dorchain was born in Rotterdam on 22 April 1925, the son of Dirk Hartman Dorchain, an office clerk, and Johanna Clazina Schalkwijk. Around 1950, he married Teuna Boer, whose name was sometimes recorded as Tuena. Born in Sliedrecht on 16 February 1925, Teuna was the daughter of Evert Read more
Dirk Groen was born in IJmuiden, the Netherlands, on 26 May 1927, the son of Johan Groen and Geertje Prins. His last recorded address in IJmuiden was 84 Bloemstraat. During the Second World War, Dirk was arrested by the German authorities and transported to Germany. Before this happened, he had Read more