Introduction Broome, on the remote north-western coast of Western Australia, occupies a particularly important place in the shared wartime history of Australia, the Netherlands and the former Netherlands East Indies (NEI). During the opening months of 1942, as Japanese forces advanced through Southeast Asia, Broome became a vital evacuation point Read more
Republished with permission. Section Two: Military, from the book A Touch of Dutch – Maritime, Military, Migration and Mercantile Connections on the Western Third 1616–2016, edited by Nonja Peters. This section explores Dutch military and civilian experiences in Australia during the Second World War and its aftermath, particularly the close Read more
Marigje Maria van Rijsbergen was born in Sliedrecht on 19 August 1916. She was the daughter of Cornelis “Kees” van Rijsbergen (1874–1952), a merchant, and Marigje Nederlof (1882–1950). On 13 December 1947, Marigje married 36-year-old Heike Bakker in Sliedrecht. Heike had been born in Delfzijl on 31 October 1911 and Read more
Jan Lavooy was born in Sliedrecht on 21 March 1913. He was the son of Johannes Lavooi (1881–1969), a barge skipper, and Marigje Bot (1883–1966). Jan grew up in a family of seven children. From 1914, the family lived at Wijk B 292 in Sliedrecht, an address later renumbered as Read more
Rias Nicolaas Spee was born in Gouda on 28 May 1926. He was the son of Cornelis Bastiaan Spee and Johanna Hendrika Maria Nederhoed. His father was born in Gouda on 13 July 1901 and operated a hat and cap shop at 229 Voorstraat in Dordrecht. His mother was born Read more
Pieter Brandwijk was born in Sliedrecht on 1 May 1901. He was the son of Gerardus Brandwijk, a ship’s captain, and Neeltje Vuijk. On 15 November 1924, he married Arina Ariaantje de Vroomen, who had been born in Sliedrecht on 4 October 1905. The couple lived at 13 Wilhelminastraat in Read more
Abraham Vermeer, known as Abram, was born in Vlaardingen on 9 March 1923. He was the son of Abraham Vermeer and Leuntje Sluijter. Vlaardingen’s history was closely connected with fishing, shipping and maritime employment. Abram continued this tradition by becoming a seaman, acquiring experience suited to work involving ships, machinery Read more
Emeritus Professor Peter Koopman is one of Australia’s internationally recognised developmental geneticists. His research helped identify the gene responsible for initiating male development in mammals, a discovery regarded as one of the major breakthroughs in twentieth-century molecular genetics. Behind his scientific achievements lies a remarkable Dutch-Australian family story. Born in Read more
The story of Ron Van ‘t Hag provides a particularly interesting example of how a young Dutch migrant became involved in Australian sporting life. Born in Almelo, the Netherlands, on 6 July 1940, Ron emigrated to Australia with his parents when he was approximately thirteen years old. The family settled Read more
Dirk van der Veeke was born in Werkendam on 2 February 1916. He was the son of Adriaan van der Veeke, a skipper and sailor, and Pieternella Johanna Cornelia Roest. Dirk grew up in a region where life was closely connected with rivers, shipping and work on the water. He Read more