The following text is from a booklet published by the Federation of Netherlands Societies Ltd. in February 1985. The research for this booklet was done by Mijntje Hage. The difficulties of the ‘first’ assisted immigrants were many, “housing” being one of the greatest problems. Although in post-war Holland housing was Read more
As of 16 November 2024, all known Dutch organisations in Brisbane—loosely connected under the Dutchlink Brisbane banner—came together for the first time to strengthen connections and get to know each other better. The event was centered around the making of bitterballen. The Dutch Chamber of Commerce Queensland (DCCQ) and the Read more
Born in Amsterdam 11-10-1934, died 5-4-2011 in PerthTextile Artist / Fashion Designer and Mixed Media Artist. Active Period c.1958 – c.2008 Artistic education: Diploma of Art Studies, Perth Technical College (1957), BA Fine Art (Fibre Textiles) Kunstnijverheidsschool/Rietveld Academie, Amsterdam (1982), BA (Sculpture) Curtin University (1990), M.A. Visual Arts, Curtin University Read more
Bill Westerveld’s life story is a testament to his enduring passion for football and resilience in the face of adversity. His journey in the sport took him across continents, representing his homeland at the youth level before embarking on a new chapter in New Zealand and later in Australia. Born Read more
On the eve of the Netherlands East Indies’ capitulation, a series of evacuation flights brought Dutch citizens to the safety of Australia, with Broome emerging as a key evacuation hub. Among the heroic pilots, Dutch-Russian Captain Iwan Smirnoff stood out for his multiple successful evacuation missions, regarding it as a Read more
A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy of the Australian National University by Wendy Walker-Birckhead – July, 1988 Abstract This ethnographic study examines Dutch identity and assimilation in Australia. Historically, Dutch migrants have been regarded as a highly assimilated group who, upon arrival in Australia, willingly abandoned Read more
50 years of silence ‘How can you tell your daughters, you know? I mean, the shame, the shame was still so great. I knew I had to tell them but I couldn’t tell them face to face . . . so I decided to write it down.’ Jan Ruff O’Herne’s Read more
At a recent DACC meeting Dr. Nonja Peters explored the rich maritime, World War II military, post-war migration, and trade (mercantile) heritage—collectively referred to as the “Four Ms”—that connects the Netherlands and Australia. This historical relationship dates from 1606 when Captain Willem Janszoon and his crew aboard the VOC ship Duyfken Read more
Introduction The following are 29 letters, written by one of the first Dutch migrants to Tasmania, who settled in Penguin in 1949. He composed these letters as reports for his cohort still in the Netherlands, encouraging them to prepare for their eventual migration and urging them to act quickly. It Read more
The chapter Bitterballen, snacks, nostalgie en Holland-promotie (Bitterballen, snacks, nostalgia, and Holland promotion) in the publication ‘Wat schaft de pot‘ (What’s for dinner) discusses the role of traditional Dutch food, particularly bitterballen and other snacks, in maintaining nostalgia and cultural identity for Dutch emigrants, including those in Australia. Bitterballen, a Read more