
Dutch-Australian Movie –“ Everybody’s Oma”
Everybody’s Oma follows in the NSW Central Coast family’s footsteps as they navigate Oma’s failing health under the spotlight of an enthusiastic audience of well-meaning strangers. Jason van Genderen premiered My Town is Broken at Sydney Film Festival (SFF) 2008. His debut feature Everybody’s Oma premieres at SFF 14 years
Patricia Metcalfe and Wim van Wely met at Camp Columbia.
Patricia (Pat) Metcalfe (born 1929 in Cairns) moved when she was 4 years old to Brisbane and after she finished the St Columba school at Wilson, was employed at Camp Columbia as a typist and secretary first with the Americans and since 1945 with the Netherlands-East-Indies Government. Here she worked

Uiver Restoration Project – Albury NSW
The Uiver Memorial Community Trust – a not-for-profit organisation – is devoted to restoring Albury’s Uiver Memorial DC-2 aircraft. In 1934 the MacRobertson Air Race proclaimed itself as the greatest international air race devised, and history has confirmed that bold claim. The aircrews that completed the journey from England to
ML-KNIL Dakota crashed in Moreton Bay – 1947
On 26 February, a ML-KNIL Douglas Dakota caught fire and crashed into the ocean about 23 minutes into a test flight from Archerfield, killing all six people – three Dutch servicemen and three Australian crew members – onboard. ML-KNIL = Militaire Luchtvaart van het Koninklijk Nederlands-Indisch Leger – Royal Netherlands

The Merauke Force in Dutch New Guinea – WWII
Merauke remained unoccupied during WWII In mid-1942, Merauke, on the south coast of Dutch New Guinea (DNG) was one of only a few parts of the Netherlands East Indies ( NEI) that had not been occupied by Japanese forces. It was garrisoned by a company of infantry from the KNIL,

120 Netherlands East Indies Squadron RAAF – WWII
The No. 120 (Netherlands East Indies) Squadron RAAF was formed at RAAF base Fairbairn in Canberra on 10 December 1943. As a joint Australian-Dutch unit, the Dutch authorities provided all the squadron’s aircrew and aircraft while the RAAF provided its ground crew. This arrangement had been previously used for No.

Dutch Migrants at Bonegilla Migrant Camp – Victoria
Around 170,000 displaced persons came to Australia immediately after World War II. Nearly half lived at Bonegilla when they arrived in Australia. Some stayed for weeks, others for months. Migrants at the centre were taught English and learnt about life in Australia. They were then employed in areas where there were labour shortages, boosting

The Night Ship – Novel about the Batavia
A new book has been published about the doomed fate of the VOC ship the Batavia in 1629. In this case the historical story forms the background to fiction through the eyes of 9 year old Dutch girl Mayken. Read the review of ”The Night Ship” by Jess Kidd as

400 years ago Dutch ship Leeuwin encountered WA Coast – 1622 – Free journal
Four-hundred years ago, in March 1622, the Dutch ship Leeuwin encountered the south-west coast of Western Australia—the first recorded sighting of the area by Europeans. Known to the Wadandi Noongar people as Doogalup, the Dutch named it ‘t’Leeuwin’s Landt’, or ‘Leeuwin’s Land’. In 1801, in recognition of this early Dutch

Dutch WWII pilot Gus Winckel celebrated in Moruya
The following information comes from the book Allies in a Bind from Dr Jack Ford. Japanese attack on Sydney Harbour On 28 May 1942, Japanese submarine I-21 launched a floatplane. It flew over Sydney Harbour spotting 13 Allied warships including Dutch submarine K-IX. On 31 May, Japanese submarines I-22, I-24

119 Netherlands East Indies Squadron RAAF in Australia during WWII
The following information comes from the book Allies in a Bind from Dr Jack Ford. On 7 June 1943, the Dutch detailed a plan for a new Mitchell squadron, designated No.119, to replace No.18 Squadron as the latter had suffered heavy aircrew losses in the first half of 1943. The
History of the Dutch in South Australia
Dutch settlers in South Australia. Although the Dutch seem to be the first to have discovered Australia, including parts of Tasmania and South Australia, they have never made a great impact as a group of settlers. As there was never any real religious persecution or high unemployment in Holland, there

Dutch-Ambonese woman created first crack in the White Australia Policy – 1949
This story starts with Samuel Jacob he was a headmaster in Merauke in Dutch New Guinea, a job he combined with being a local civil administrator. Samuel and his family while having the Dutch nationality, were all born in Ambon. Together with his family he was evacuated in August 1942

Dutch representatives at the opening of Australia’s First Parliament – 1901
The First Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia was opened at the Melbourne Exhibition Building on 9 May 1901. The new King of England, Edward VII, sent his son and heir, the Duke of Cornwall and York, to Australia as his representative. The painting is part of the Royal Collection

Compagnie Batavia – 73rd Living History Reenactment group
The group was formed in 2016 and is Australia’s only 80 years war living history group. The group has around 40 members across the Eastern seaboard and has a very strong focus on an immersive living history impression. The Group participated in the Winterfest at the Hawkesbury showground in July

Pieter van Gent Winery & Vineyard – Dutch winemaker in Mudgee
The van Gent family tree can be traced back to 1790 and reveals a family of distillers and winemakers. It was Johannes Hermanus van Gent (1817 to 1859) ship owner, merchant, distiller of spirits, member of the Municipal Council, Chamber of Commerce and world traveller who influenced a long line

Grondwet wordt gewijzigd voor stemmen voor Eerste Kamer vanuit buitenland
Wat in 2015 met een motie op het D66 congres begon, eindigde in juli 2022, zeven jaar later, met een overwinning voor en erkenning van de rechten van de Nederlanders buiten Nederland: nota bene in de Eerste Kamer zelf werd vanmiddag de laatste horde geslecht om de grondwet te wijzigen.

Netherlands Chamber of Commerce Australia
The NCCA is the go-to organisation that connects the Australian and Dutch business communities. Its mission is to be an inclusive networking body that connects and provides measurable value for its members. Through our monthly events our members have the opportunity to meet like-minded people, expand their knowledge, and create business

The Dutch Australian Society “Abel Tasman” Inc.
The Dutch Australian Society “Abel Tasman” Inc existed from 1969 till approx 2010. This history is written by Kees Wierenga during the 00s There was a Dutch Australian Society in the 1950s, but it faded away after approx. five years due to lack of interest. Beginning in 1952, it produced

Archerfield Airport history presentations and tour – Brisbane 16 September
Invitation to WWII presentations and tour of the Archerfield Airport Heritage Room Organised by Dutchlink Brisbane on 16 September from 2pm till 4pm This is the 2nd presentation as the one on 22/7 has been booked out. Please click here for bookings. Archerfield Airport has recently opened a Heritage Room

Dutch Australian Society in Illawarra
The Dutch Australia Society in the Illawarra (DASI) was founded in 1952 and is affiliated with the Federation of Netherlands Societies. The club publishes a monthly newsletter “De Stuw”. The aim of DASI is to provide and maintain traditional Dutch cultural functions and provide activities for the elderly Dutch and Australian members.

VOC Historical Society, Perth (VOCHS)
The Society was formed in 2000 by a group of history enthusiasts that were: Concerned at the lack of general knowledge about maritime events that took place in the 17th and 18th centuries off and on Western Australia’s (WA) coastline hundreds of years before the settlement of WA in 1829

Erasmus Foundation – Melbourne
The Erasmus Foundation is a Dutch Australian cultural society which was established in 1965 in Melbourne, Australia. The aims of the Society are to be a link with the Dutch culture for people with a Dutch background or connection who live in Victoria and to acquaint others with that culture.

Dutch Club Abel Tasman – Melbourne
The Club was initially known as the ‘Netherlands Society Abel Tasman’ and first opened its doors on the 1st November 1958 in Barkly Street, St Kilda. The Club changed its name on the 30th October 1978 to its present name of Dutch Club ‘Abel Tasman’. The Club organises several activities

Dutch Australian Heritage Centre & Dutch Museum – Melbourne
The Dutch Australian Heritage Centre (DAHC) gives the general community an opportunity to learn about Dutch and former Dutch East Indies culture and language and shows how families moved to Victoria and lived and worked in the post World War II migration period. The Dutch and Dutch East Indies migration

Rembrandt Dutch Club – Sydney
Founded in 1978 We are open every Wednesday from 10am till 1pm and every Friday from 3.30pm till 8.30pm. Our Club is run purely by volunteers, from the barman to the cleaner, the chef and the gardener. The Club has several interest groups: Klaverjassers and Scrabblers. It’s a friendly place

Rembrandt Male Choir St Marys (Sydney)
It was around 1985 and the club needed more regular visitors. The Friday nights were alright but could be better. The idea came up to start a male choir. The name would be the same as the club. Rembrandt Male Choir St Marys. Looking for interested persons went as far

British pilot in Dutch WWII resistance dies in Sydney
Frank Dell, first a RAF pilot who joined the Dutch resistance against Nazi Germany and later migrated to Australia was buried under the sound of the Wilhelmus (Dutch national anthem) with his casket under the Dutch flag and the Union Jack. Article below from SMH.

Story of the WWII 120 NEI Squadron RAAF
Posted with the approval of the author Dr P.C.Boer – updates are provided on Academia.edu See also: The Dutch at Archerfield Airport, Brisbane

Seaplane crash saved people from Japanese attack on Broome – Gerard Lemmens 1942
Account of Journey from Soerabaia in Java to Australia during March 1942. Written by: Gerard Lemmens at the age of 16 years. Translated from Dutch during May 1994 for the benefit and interest of my grandchildren. Monday 2nd March 1942. It was midday of Monday 2nd March. I had just

Joop Gijzemijter at NEI-TS in Archerfield
Johannes (Joop) Gijzemijter Born 24 Feb, 1915, Rotterdam, Netherlands. Died 30 April, 1999, Brisbane, Australia. Written by his son John Gyzemyter. “What did you do during the war Daddy?” As children Dad often told us stories about his career in aviation which started on the 3rd of March 1930 as

Dutch participation in Battle of Milne Bay 1942 Seminar Brisbane 10 September
Most of the vital reinforcement of New Guinea in 1942 and 1943 – during the War in the South West Pacific – including troops, vehicles, weapons and supplies for the Milne Bay, Buna and Gona operations, was undertaken by Dutch vessels. The operation collectively known as Operation Lilliput, used the

Fred “Pulk” Pelder. His18 NEI Squadron RAAF version aircraft wants to fly again
The “Pulk” (which was originally N5-131 a B-25C – the first mass-produced B-25 version) from No. 18 (NEI) Squadron – a Netherlands East Indies / RAAF composite squadron. Fred Pelder He was credited with directing the rebuild of a severely damaged military Lockheed L212 training aircraft including grafting on a

First flight between Netherlands and Australia – May 1931
In May 1931, KLM added an experimental flight from Batavia to Melbourne to their regular Amsterdam – Batavia service providing a through service from Amsterdam to Australia. The plane was a Fokker FVIIA/3m trimotor specially named ‘Abel Tasman’ for this trip. The pilot and co-pilot were Maurits Pattist and Jan

Dutch history of Archerfield Airport Brisbane presentations and Tour of the Heritage Room
Organised by Dutchlink Brisbane on 22 July from 2pm till 4pm – Booked out. Archerfield Airport has recently opened a Heritage Room in their historic Art Nouveau Arrival Hall. It provides a great pictorial overview of its rich history. Archerfield Aerodrome was Brisbane’s commercial airport from 1931 until 1949. It

Maryse Jansen – photographer
Maryse Jansen had always lived in Rijswijk and Den Haag in the Netherlands, until she made Australia her home in 2009. A different lifestyle, a warmer climate and lots of natural space beckoned. Maryse and her partner took their chances, applied for permanent residence in Australia and ended up just

Dutch Explorers in the Gulf of Carpentaria
In 2022 I explored the south western part of the Gulf of Carpentaria. We were at the mouth of the Norman River at Karumba. The Dutch explores didn’t come that far south in the Gulf. Nevertheless we got an idea of the landscape and in particular the endless savanna along

The Tasman Map – The Biography of a Map Sydney 9 July
Was Captain Cook was the first European to map Australia and was Matthew Flinders the first to circumnavigate? No way! Abel Tasman, the Dutch East India Company and the first Dutch discoveries. Everyone who passes through the vestibule of the Mitchell Library stops to admire the magnificent marble mosaic of

NEW – Online classes at Dutch School ‘de Kangoeroe’ in Sydney
In addition to classes at the Hunters Hill, Manly Vale, Surry Hills and Forestville locations, Dutch school ‘de Kangoeroe’ is also providing online classes this year. They use the latest methods that enable them to offer hybrid education. Requirements for online learners:– You live more than 45 minutes’ drive from one

Merchant Man Derk Johannes Kippers
Derk Johannes Kippers was born in The Hague, Netherlands, 9th November, 1909.Graduated with First Class Wireless Operators Licence, about 1928. Partly because of the Great Depression, he did not enter the Dutch Merchant Navy until a few years later. The Merchant Navy ships he served on sailed the Atlantic, Pacific and

Dr Chris Roelfsema – preserving reefs in Australia
In June 2022, the Consulate General of the Netherlands in Sydney and Dutchlink Sydney welcomed Dr Chris Roelfsema, Associate Professor at The University of Queensland to the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney. Dr Roelfsema presented a lecture on ‘Maps Connecting People To Help Save Reefs’. The theme of the lecture indicates the priority that the Netherlands
Dutch Australian Genealogy Group May Newsletter added
A group of people who have Dutch ancestry and are researching our family trees. Facebook page

Abel Tasman Museum Lutjegast, Netherlands
The DACC has special relationship with the Abel Tasman Museum in Lutjegast, a town in Groningen, where Abel Tasman was born. There have been visits from Australian to Lutjegast and the other way around. There is more information on their website. The images below are displays from the Abel Tasman

Fleeing Dutch mistakenly attacked at Karumba during WWII
When the Japanese invaded the Netherlands East Indies (NEI) during February and early March 1942, many Dutch people fled to Australia, most ended up in Darwin and Broome but a few fled via the Gulf of Carpentaria. This remote area of northwest Queensland was so open to invasion that a

Netherlands East Indies Air Force in Australia during WWII
The Japanese occupied the Netherlands East Indies (NEI) in early 1942. A number of Dutch airmen escaped to Australia after surviving the fierce fight with the Japanese. They mostly ended up at either Archerfield airfield in Brisbane or Melbourne. These airmen were formed into a number of operational groups under RAAF control.
Annual reunions of the 18 NEI RAAF Squadron
The preparation of the formation of the 18 NEI Squadron RAAF started in Archerfield, Brisbane and was formalised in Canberra on 4 April 1942. There is an annual reunion of the children of the 18th squadron (For enquiries: Leonie Killeen 18sqnei.aust@gmail.com). The world-wide reunion takes place in Arnhem , also

Dutch movies at Sydney Film Festival – June 2022
The world’s best new films come to Sydney this year for 12 days and nights of inspiring and entertaining premieres, talks and parties. Go and see one of the three films below, or why not all of them!? NR.10 – One whispered word sets into motion a precisely executed, unpredictable,

Dutch Children films at international festival – Sydney, Melbourne
CHIFF, isa festival of the best new kid’s films from across the world screening only in cinemas from May 28 – June 13! CHIFF returns with three films from the Netherlands, including OINK – a hilarious Dutch-language animation about a girl who desperately wants a pet dog but is given a piglet

Ambassador met Dutch organisations in Brisbane
During her official visit to Brisbane Netherlands Ambassador to Australia H.E. Marion Derckx and Honorary Consul Mrs Marjon Wind met with representatives of various Dutch organisations in Brisbane. Present were: Netherlands Association of Queensland (NAQ) Brisbane Borrelclub Dutch Radio Group 4EB De Duyfkenschool Dutch Chamber of Commerce in Queensland Dutchlink

Special Concordia function Newcastle 28 May
Our special program is all about variety, we will remember the many people who died during world war 2, including every war since our liberation in 1945 like right now in Ukraine. We celebrate Kings day and a belated Mothers Day, you still have a chance to give her another special day out. All Mothers
Dutch clubs and organisations in Australia
With thanks to the Netherlands Embassy in Canberra The strong historical ties between the Netherlands and Australia have resulted in many Dutch interest groups, ranging from social clubs to cultural organisations. On this webpage you will also find information on learning the Dutch language in Australia and Dutch focused media

Launch Heritage Plan Camp Columbia
In the presence of the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Australia, H.E. Mrs Marion Derckx, at an event hosted by the Pooh Corner Environment Centre and Dutchlink Brisbane a plan was launched to preserve the last remaining heritage items of Camp Columbia (which are situated in the

Migration Museum Rotterdam – opens in 2024
The museum is based in the Fenix warehouse at the waterfront on Katendrecht. It was built in 1923. At that time it was the largest warehouse in the world. The new FENIX is more than a museum it is a cultural location in Rotterdam. From its quays millions of Europeans

Dutch merchant fleet delivered major contribution to the war in the Pacific.
Dr Jack Ford wrote an extensive history of the Dutch war effort in the South West Pacific. He published this in: Allies in Bind: Australia and the Netherlands East Indies relations during World War Two. He also wrote a number of articles on this history, below the one on the

Henk Paardekooper- Japanese invasion of the Dutch East Indies
At the time of the Japanese invasion in the Dutch Indies Hendrik (Henk) Paardekooper was employed – since 1938 – by the Droogdok Maatschappij Surabaya (DSM) being responsible e.g. for the floating docks and cranes used for the maintenance and repair of larger sea-going vessels, including those of the Dutch

Beppe Goote – ‘Dutch Mayor’ at Wacol, Brisbane
Hans and (Luberta) Beppe Goote migrated from Indonesia to Australia in 1956 after Indonesia nationalised all Dutch assets. The Goote family worked on a Dutch-owned tea plantation in Indonesia. They had the following children: Henny, Meika, Josje, Hans (jnr) and Conny. That is oldest to youngest. Hans (snr), Beppe and

Dutch contribution at Sydney VIVID
Sydney Vivid is back in 2022. After two years of cancellations due to Covid, we can look forward to Sydney VIVID 2022 which will take place from the 27th of May until the 18th of June. For 23 days the festival will connect Sydney to light artists, music makers, brilliant thinkers and

Stories of the Dutch WWII submarines in Australia
There are several memorials in Australia that mention the activities of Dutch submarines in the Australian waters. These submarines played an import role during the Battles of Singapore and Malaya. In the first few weeks of the was in the East they sank more Japanese boats that the Brits and

Auschwitz survivor David Groenteman fled to Australia.
In Auschwitz, David Groenteman, as an eighteen-year-old boy, had to carry away corpses, bury them and scoop coal for twelve hours in the bitter cold. After the war he fled from the painful memories. In Australia he built a new life. But he learned that the aftermath of the war

Novel – “Anneke: Breda to Brisbane” – Dr Alexandra Faulkner
The novel is about the experiences of Dutch immigrants in Australia from the 1950s to the 8os. The themes in this novel include, to various degree, immigration, identity, indigenous issues, the White Australian policy, women’s friendships, the institute of marriage and same sex relationships. This is the blurb of the

Koningsdag – Kingsday – Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne
Official Reception – Canberra – Wednesday 27 April Ter gelegenheid van de verjaardag van Zijne Majesteit Koning Willem-Alexander nodigt de ambassadeur van het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden Marion Derckx alle Nederlanders vanaf 18 jaar, woonachtig in Australië, uit voor een receptie op de residentie in Canberra.De receptie vindt plaats op woensdag

John van Lieshout the first Dutch-born billionaire in Australia
John (Jan) was born in the Netherlands in 1946. The family of 13 – headed by father Karel and mother Anna – emigrated to Australia in 1960 initially settling at Brisbane’s Wacol Migrant Camp. Karel Van Lieshout, was a plasterer and John had an early but unsuccessful stint in the

Netherlands Ambassador will visit the heritage site of Camp Columbia in Brisbane
The Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Australia, H.E. Mrs Marion Derckx will at her official visit to Brisbane attend an information event at the site of the former Camp Columbia at Wacol, Brisbane. It was here that the Netherlands East Indies Government-in-Exile had its headquarters during WWII.

DCCQ launches Dutchlink Brisbane
At the Dutch Chamber of Commerce Queensland, members have been suggesting extending our activities to include cultural, historical, and social events. Today, we are very excited to present to you Dutchlink Brisbane, which is built on the success of our sister organisation Dutchlink Sydney! Register here for free updates and

‘Once-in-a-lifetime discovery’: 400-year-old Dutch masterpiece discovered in the Blue Mountains
A 400-year-old painting unearthed in the Blue Mountains and long thought to be a copy may be worth up to $5 million after art historians confirmed it was a 17th century Dutch masterpiece. https://amp.smh.com.au/national/once-in-a-lifetime-discovery-400-year-old-dutch-masterpiece-discovered-in-the-blue-mountains-20220412-p5ad07.html There is a bit more background in the Dutch article on the discovery. Kunstwerk in Australische

The 18 Netherlands East Indies Squadron RAAF – WWII
The 18 Netherlands East Indies squadron RAAF was established on April 4 1942 They destroyed many Japanese operations on NEI, sunk 6 Japanese ships and numerous smaller boats.

National (Dutch) commemorations – Sydney
Nationale Herdenkingen : In the Netherlands we have 3 commemorations, one being on the 4th May the National dodenherdenking. This commemorates the deaths of everyone who died during the 2nd World War military as well as civilians. On the 15th August we remember all those who died during the Japanese

Hugo von Nahmer Nederlandse Consul in Melbourne (1857), geboren in Geldrop
in 1857, the Dutch government appointed the 21-year old Melbourne-based merchant and shipping agent Hugo von (der) Nahmer, who was of German descent but Geldrop-born, as honorary consul In his enthusiasm, Von Nahmer started using the Dutch name Van der Nahmer to suit the appointment. Nevertheless, he had to resign

Bach to Bolling – Teije Hylkema and the Black Tulip jazz – performances Sydney, Queanbeyan, Orange, Yass, Goulburn April May
Bach to Bolling – Baroque Jazz Fusion Acclaimed cellist Teije Hylkema and the Black Tulip jazz trio come together to perform an uplifting baroque-jazz fusion concert. A movement of the legendary Bach suite’s is contrasted with a movement of Bolling’s Suite for cello and jazz trio, producing enchanting baroque and

DutchLink – webinar data strategy HEMA 13 April 2022
Webinar Data Strategy with Bas Karsemeyer, Head of Data @ HEMAWednesday 13 April 20224:30 PM – 5:30 PM AEST Want your organisation to get more value from data? Then join this webinar on data strategy and learn how HEMA, an iconic Dutch retailer, uses data to stay ahead of the

Dutch Courier – printed newspaper for the Dutch community in Australia since 1970
The Dutch Courier was first published in Victoria on behalf of the Associated Netherlands Societies in 1970 by Max Leening. The idea of the publication was to connect all the different Dutch clubs in Victoria through a publication that functioned like an extended newsletter. Since the early days, this Victorian

Nonja Peters inducted into the 2022 WA Women’s Hall of Fame.
West Australian/Dutch historian, anthropologist, museum curator and social researcher Nonja Peters has been inducted into the 2022 WA Women’s Hall of Fame. Dr Nonja Peters is an historian, anthropologist, museum curator and social researcher whose expertise is transnational migration (forced and voluntary) and resettlement in Australia. She is the author

Netherlands Association of Queensland turns 70
It all started in 1952. Four Dutch men, recently arrived in Australia, started a `Klaverjas’ (Dutch card game-only known in the Netherlands) club. A constitution was sent to Fair Trading Queensland. Approval was received on the 6 July 1952 and the Netherlands Association of Queensland got incorporated and known as

Footballer Graeme Rutjes – Born in Sydney, played for Oranje
Published in the Dutch Courier March 2022 ‘I was always interested in the Australian players who came to Europe when I was playing,’ Graeme Rutjes, former Netherlands International, tells me. We’re chatting via What’s App, Graeme at the golf course he manages near Utrecht, me at home in Hobart.[1] What

Sailing on the Duyfken
The first documented and undisputed European sighting of and landing in Australia was in late February 1606, by the Dutch navigator Willem Janszoon aboard the Duyfken. Janszoon charted the Australian coast and met with Aboriginal people. Janszoon followed the coast of New Guinea, missed Torres Strait, and explored and then

Exhibition Maps of the Pacific
Roland Spuij attended a guided tour by conservator Maggie Patton of the “Maps of the Pacific” in the Mitchell Library in Sydney. A brilliant exhibition of original maps going back to 1490, including the famous Tasman map of 1644 and other beautiful maps of Dutch cartographers and wonderful globes. And

Dutch solar foil to turn Australia into a major hydrogen exporter
Australia’s position rereading climate change is well known in Europe and often criticised. At the same time Australia wants to become a large supplier of green hydrogen.In order to achieve this the country needs solar power as cheaply as possible. The Dutch company HyET seems to be the ideal partner

Oma’s Coffee House and Clog Barn – Coffs Harbour
The Clog Barn is one of Coffs Harbour’s longest running tourist attractions. The business is still run by the family. There are regular demonstrations of clog making at the barn. Tom Hartsuyker and his wife Rita immigrated from the Netherlands in 1951, where they settled in Musswelbrook in the Hunter Valley.

Biennale of Sydney: 2 Dutch contributions
Get excited as from 12 March – 13 June 2022 the 23rd Biennale of Sydney will take place: rivers, wetlands and other salt freshwater ecosystems will feature in this Biennale, titled ‘Rivus’. The Bieannale is all about the varying political awareness of dynamic living systems: Can a river sue us over psychoactive sewage?

80 years of diplomatic relations Netherlands-Australia
This year the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Australia celebrate 80 years of diplomatic relations. Today we unveil our exclusive logo. The Netherlands established formal diplomatic representation in Australia with the appointment of Envoy François Cornelius van Aerssen van Voshol on 16 April 1942. “Throughout this year, the Dutch Diplomatic

Dutch internet radio station Pinguin Vintage
Since February 2022, 1st Vintage radio is aired and plays 24/7 songs from the fifites, sixties and seventies (no news, no commercials) with a lot of attention to the forgotten hits, album-tracks, Billboard Hot 100 and unknown songs you’ll wonder why they didn’t make it and including a lot of

The Fall of Netherlands East Indies March1942
After the heavy losses during the Battle of the Java Sea the British and American forced started to withdraw and the Dutch and Australians were left on their own. On Sunday, 8 March, Lt. Gen. Hitoshi Imamura met with the Governor-General of the NEI, Jonkheer (Lord) Alidius Tjarda van Starkenborgh Stachouwer and set a deadline for the next day for an unconditional surrender.

The Dutch Houses of Coopers Plains
Sign petition to safe last of the Dutch Houses in Coopers Plain, Brisbane

Grenzeloos Verliefd en Baby in het buitenland (TV request)
Mijn naam is Ashley en ik werk als redacteur voor de Nederlandse televisieprogramma’s Grenzeloos Verliefd en Baby in het buitenland. In het eerstgenoemde programma volgen we Nederlanders die voor de liefde naar het buitenland vertrekken en daar een leven opbouwen. In Baby in het buitenland wonen de Nederlandse vrouwen vaak

Documentary: The Past Ended On Mango Street
The Netherlands Embassy in Canberra is delighted to announce that the documentary ‘The Past Ended on Mango Street’ funded by their Shared Cultural Heritage Programme, is now available to watch online. The film-making team of Jean-Baptiste Brelière and Thomas Watson spent 6 years making the documentary. ‘The Past Ended on

Abel Tasman Map restored at NSW State Library
In October 2019 Dutch Premier Mark Rutte paid a three day working visit to Sydney. There was an official reception at the State Library of NSW where Premier Rutte received a tour along the various Dutch artifact. For this special occasion the Library put the famous Abel Tasman on display

The van Tassel aerial exhibitionist performing in Australia – 1890
The Dutch – Australian connection here is a bit convoluted, but as it is too interesting to not cover it, so please bear with me. It starts with the van Texel family. Jan Cornelis van Texel was one of the first Dutchmen that arrived in America. He was one of

The invisible immigrants: Dutch migrants in South Australia
Introduction to the publication (2011). ‘God made the world but the Dutch made Holland’ is an old saying referring to the way the Dutch shaped their nation by reclaiming land. It is with this same sense of determination that the Dutch applied themselves to the task of assimilating into the

80th Anniversary – Battle of the Java Sea
Updated with newspaper article from 1945 below It is 80 years ago this month that this heroic, but at the same time disastrous Battle took place. By that time the Dutch Allied Forces had already been involved in the war in SE Asia for three months. Here they had occurred

Visit of Ayaan Hirsi to Sydney – June 2007
Personal report from Paul Budde about his meeting with Ayaan Hirsi. Written in 2007 Her full name is Ayaan Hirsi Ali. She was born in Somalia, in Africa. This is a worn-torn country, which already for many decades doesn’t have a proper government, it doesn’t have a banking system nor

Paul Budde receives Heritage Volunteer Awards – 2002
Convict Trail Chairman and instigator Paul Budde received one of the inaugural Heritage Volunteer Awards – on 28 August 2002 from the Deputy Premier, the Hon Dr Andrew Refshauge, at a special ceremony in the NSW State Library. Paul moved from Oss in the Netherlands to Sydney, Australia in 1983,

Kroonprinselijk bezoek aan Sydney – 2006
Persoonlijk verslag van Paul Budde mbt zijn deelname aan het bezoek van Kroonprins Willem Alexander en Prinses Maxima aan Australia In mijn geval zijn er weken van voorbereidingen aan voorafgegaan met allerlei telefoontjes van en naar de Nederlandse ambassade maar voor de organisatoren zelf zijn er maanden aan hard werk

Royal Visit Queen Beatrix and Prince Claus – 1988
Press release Prime Minister Bob Hawke 27 September 1988 Her Majesty Queen Beatrix and His Royal Highness Prince Claus of the Netherlands will make an official visit to Australia from Monday October 24 to Saturday November 5. It will be the first time a reigning Dutch monarch will have visited

Jennifer Mary Seaton
My parents and 6 mt old brother arrived on the MS Fairsea, 2 April 1952 Jennifer remembers going to the Catholic Church at Wacol. Father Nouwens was the priest. He buried my 11 yr old brother Louie van den Elsen at St Brendans, Moorooka. (he was accidentally killed by a

The Fourth Ally – the Dutch forces in Australia during WWII
by Doug Hurst – 2001 The Fourth Ally tells of the Dutch forces who fought from Australia against the Japanese during WW II. Driven by the Japanese from Indonesia (then the Netherlands East Indies), they relocated ships, aircraft and personnel to Australia. They joined with United States, British and Australian

Allies in a Bind – Australia and the Netherlands East Indies in the Second World War
Early in Roger Bell’s book Unequal Allies,he states: ”Relations between the governments of Australia and the United States underwent fundamental changes during 1941-46…Indeed it was not characterized by general bilateral accord on political, defence and economic matters during war time.” These comments can be equally applied to the Dutch/Australian wartime