The history covers three aspects:

  • The early sporadic contacts between VOC seafareers and Indigenous   people in the 17th century
  • Dutch settlers in the 19th and early 20th century – small number (seee  Duyker’s book)
  • Mass immigration in the post -WWII period

The DACC researched the experiences of the post-WWII  Dutch migrants in2005 and again in 2017, of post1990 Dutch migrants. Results reported elsewhere in this Digital Hub.

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Three unique Dutch movies during WII from around Australia

Amateur movies made by Mr. Arie Berger. Source Netherlands Ministry of Defence Movie #3 – 1943 Beeldbank – Department of Defence – Netherlands Movie #4 1943 -1944 Beeldbank – Department of Defence – Netherlands Movie #5 1945 -1946 Beeldbank – Department of Defence – Netherlands See also: The Dutch at

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Jan Logeman and the Juliana Village – Sydney

Juliana Village in Miranda in Sydney’s South came about thanks largely to the vision and drive of one man: Johan (Jan, John) Logeman (more info on Jan in the pdf below). The idea was born when he he was recovering from a heart illness. Talking to people around him it

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Christian Reformed Churches of Australia

The Reformed Churches of Australia is the name of the church established by post-war Dutch immigrants of the Reformed faith in Australia. It is sometimes incorrectly referred to as the Dutch Reformed Church. The first Reformed Church of Australia was established at Kingston, Tasmania in 1952. Its name was chosen

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Dutch Settlers of the Latrobe Valley

“Settlers of the Latrobe Valley: A Sociological Study of Immigrants in the Brown Coal Industry in Australia” is book by Polish-Australian sociologist and academic Jerzy Zubrzycki. The book includes two detailed studies, of the Dutch at Moe and the Ukrainians at Newborough, directed to testing the validity of generalisations about

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Marayke Jonkers – Paralympic Swimming Champion

Marayke Caroline Jonkers was born on 13 September 1981 in Hobart. Her parents are of Dutch descent and migrated to Australia before she was born. She moved to Queensland as a baby. She currently (2023) lives in the Sunshine Coast of Queensland. She became a paraplegic due to a car

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The famous tulip growing Tesselaar family

The following information is abstracted from the Tesselaar website. In June 1939 – just weeks before the outbreak of World War 2 in Europe – Cees and Johanna Tesselaar left their home in Beverwijk, the Netherlands and on their wedding day aboard the Strathallan. They were headed for Australia, bringing little

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Jessie Catherine Couvreur- Dutch-Tassie author ( 1848-1897)

Born in Highgate, London, Jessie Catherine Couvreur was of Dutch, French, and English descent, with her father, Alfred James Huybers, originally a merchant from Antwerp. She arrived in Tasmania with her family in December 1852 and received her education in Hobart. In June 1867, she married Charles F. Fraser and

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Early cubist artist Harry den Hartog (1902-1984)

Henricus Marie (Harry) den Hartog (1902-1984) was a Dutch-born artist who emigrated to Australia in 1923. He is known for his contribution to the development of cubism in Australia. Den Hartog was born in Rotterdam, Netherlands, and studied art at the Rotterdam Academy. After completing his studies, he moved to

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Jacob Carabain Dutch-Belgian – Melbourne – 1885

Jacob Frans Jozef Carabain, also known as Jacques François Joseph Carabain, was a Dutch-Belgian painter. He was renowned for his Romantic-Realist style, particularly his depictions of cities and buildings. Carabain’s interest in Medieval and Baroque architecture often led him to paint busy marketplaces. Carabain initially studied at the Amsterdamer Kunstakademie,

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Fokke Jacob de Jong – jumped ship and settled in Victoria

Fokke Jacob de Jong was born on December 18, 1841, in Oldeboorn, Friesland, Netherlands. His parents were Jacob de Jong and Antje Jans Rinzema. It looks like he jumped ship somewhere around 187e and settled in the Romsey area. According to Australian marriage records, Fokke Jacob de Jong married Sarah

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Van Alkemade’s Major Plains Limekiln in Lara Victoria

Petrus van Alkemade, also known (in Australia) as Peter Alkemade, was born in Noordwijk, Netherlands in 1835. Son of Petrus van Alkemade, also known (in Australia) as Peter Alkemade, was born in Noordwijk, Netherlands in 1835. Son of Cornelis Cornelisz Alkemade and Alida Aris van der Plas. He arrived in

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Dutch Migrants and the gold rush of the 1850s.

Obviously the Big Australian Gold Rush that started in the 1850s and 1860s had also reached the news in the Netherlands. It looks like that several potential prospectors signed on as sailor on the many merchants ship with the aim to jump ship in Australia and try their luck on

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The Willemse Family – major mushroom suppliers

By Maria Horrocks Petrus (Piet) Wilhelmus Johannes Willemse was born on 13 July 1933 at Liessel, Deurne, North Braband, Netherlands to Johannes Jozef Willemse (b 27.01.02 d 27 Oct 1944) and Francina Petronella Wilhelmina Spreeuwenberg (b 30 Nov 1906 D April 1968). Piet was second child, oldest son. There were

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70 years since the 1953 North Sea Flood ‘Watersnoodramp’

Just as there have been extreme weather events in Australia last year carrying over into this year resulting in devastating floods over large areas of Australia resulting in  loss of life, livelihood and billions of dollars’ worth of damage to property and infrastructure, so there was seventy years ago an

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Jan Hendrik Scheltema Dutch-Australian Painter (1861-1941)

Compiled by  Paul Budde, in consultation with Peter Reynders. Two Dutchmen, both now passed way, members of the same extended family, yet three generations apart, made a noticeable contribution to Australian culture, by just going about their business. The artist Jan Hendrik Scheltema by migrating here in the 19th century,

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The rich history of Dutch football clubs in Australia

Clogball: Remembering the Dutch football clubs of Australia By Adam Muyt · On November 12, 2015 Adam is releasing a book on the topic of the Dutch migrants and soccer in Australia in 2023.  We will cover this once the book has been released. If you think the Dutch have never won a

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Adrian van Leest – potato king

This article was written by Susan Parsons for her Kitchen Garden column in The Canberra Times in November 2013. Permission was provided by Susan and the publication to replicate the text for the Dutch Australian Cultural Centre. Adrian van Leest was born in the Netherlands, where his father had a

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Kees Lumkes imported the first tulips in Australia

Written by his daughter Wilma Summerville Kornelius Berend Lumkes  ( 26/2/1911 to 13/7/1984) son of Willem Lumkes was born in Groningen, Netherlands. His parents were old at his birth and his only sibling was 16 years older. His family were quite affluent and had a large grain farm. The house

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Marta Dusseldorp – Actress

Marta Dusseldorp (born 1 February 1973), the granddaughter of Dick Dusseldorp, the founder of Lend Lease. Martha is an Australian stage, film and theatre actress. Her television credits include BlackJack, Crownies (and its spin-off Janet King), Jack Irish and A Place to Call Home. Her story is told in the

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Guillaume Daniel Delprat (1856-1937) Metallurgist at BHP

Guillaume Daniel Delprat was born on 1 September 1856 at Delft, son of Major General Felix Albert Theodore Delprat (1812-1888), sometime minister of war, and his wife Elisabeth Francina, née van Santen Kolff. From 1873 to 1877 he served an engineering apprenticeship in Scotland. In 1879 he married Henrietta Maria

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Personal recollections Camp Columbia – Jean van Schilfgaarde

Personal recollections Camp Columbia – Jean van Schilfgaarde The information below is the exact text of a letter from Jean van Schilfgaarde to Dr Jack Ford in 1992. Jack had contacted her for his research for his publication: Allies in bind: Australia and the Netherlands East Indies relations during World War Two. This

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Akky van Ogtrop – Art Curator

By Akky van Ogtrop                       My time in the Netherlands I was born and educated in the Netherlands in Bussum, the youngest in a family where the arts and especially music were very important.  My father was a musicologist, principal viola player and conductor and my mother a concert pianist. I

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Dr Ray Kerkhove Historian specialising in Aboriginal history

Ray was born in ‘s-Gravenhage (The Hague). In 1965, at the age of 4, he migrated to Sydney with his family – his parents Wim Kerkhove and Cornelia (in Australia ‘Corinne’) Kerkhove (Muusse), and sister Louise Wilhelmina Kerkhove (now Freebairn). In Indonesia, Ray’s father Wim served in the Dutch-Indonesian War

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Jeff Crosbie – Australian Gunner at the 18 NEI RAAF Squadron

On 22 January 1944 RAAF Flight Sergeant Jeff Crosbie reported for duty at the aircrew headquarters tent of 18 NEI-RAAF Squadron at Batchelor, Northern Territory. When the Dutch had to flee Netherlands East Indies, after the Japanese invaded the country, Dutch planes, ships and military personnel regrouped in Australia.  While

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Professor Klaas Woldring – reflecting on Australian politics

Biography This is a personal story from Associate Professor Klaas Woldring the author of six short books on democracy and political changes that are needed in Australia to move forward. Klaas was born on 2nd July 1934 in Groningen He went to Highschool there, completed two years compulsory military service, worked

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The history of the Dutch Australian Weekly

The Sydney-based Dutch Australian Weekly (DAW) was founded in 1951 by Alfred Schuurman with the assistance of Cumberland Newspapers. However, Dutch immigrants preferred English language journals and the paper suffered a steady decline in circulation. By 1990 it was fortnightly and by the time it ceased publication, in October 2004,

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Huygens Institute – The Netherlands

The Huygens Institute aims to make Dutch history and culture more inclusive. It also provides access to primary source material and text editions on which to base further analytical and interpretive research. In addition, the Huygens Institute takes the lead in developing innovative methods, tools and sustainable digital infrastructure. The

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Jan Zevenboom from gold-digger to Vice Consul (1856)

Jan Zevenboom born in 1822. He arrived in Melbourne from Amsterdam in 1856 his profession was listed as brush-maker. He travelled straight on the gold fields, but apparently was not lucky enough to become rich. He settled in Melbourne taking up his trade as a brush-maker in Beckett Street.

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Glen op den Brouw awarded the Order of Liverpool (Sydney)

The following is an interview with Glen published in October 2018 in the Daily Telegraph. A link to the Article is provided underneath, Liverpool Historical Society president Glen op den Brouw reflects on what he loves about Liverpool. 1. When did you move to this suburb and why? After migrating

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Emigrant story – Joop Mul

I was born in Gouda, the Netherlands during World War II. I migrated to Australia at the age of 12, on the migrant ship Johan van Oldenbarnevelt in 1956. My parents thought they would find a house and work easily in Perth but, after a brief talk with the family

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Jacqueline van der Bie a Hoekse Waardse in Australia

In 2001 they visited her brother-in-law in New Zealand and both she and her husband felt there should be more to life than running the rat race they were in. So, the seed of migration had been planted.
Australia seemed the obvious choice. So, the visa process got started, but that took a long time. So, they decided to go on a tourist visa for 6 months and see what would happen. Well, that was a golden move, because while they were travelling around Australia their visa was approved!

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Dutch Camp Casino WWII – Archive Jan de Wit

This post contains a unique collection of archives kept by Jan (John) de Wit. Jan joined the Dutch Airforce and became a guard at the Dutch Camp in Casino NSW. There were uprisings in the camp and people were killed. This became an embarrassment for Australia. The Australian Unions played a key role here as well.

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Hans de Vries Flight Lieutenant No. 18 Squadron NEI / RAAF

When the war reached Java, he fled on the merchant ship the KPM SS Boissevain to Freemantle. He was despatched to the RAAF training camp near Lake Macquarie and from here he was send to the Jackson, Mississippi to be trained on the B25 bombers. He was assigned to the No. 18 Squadron NEI / RAAF operating from the Batchelor Airfield, Northern Territory. He flew bombing missions against Japanese military strongholds and shipping. He was highly decorated.

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Dutch immigrant ship Willem Ruys

Royal Rotterdamsche Lloyd (then Nedlloyd and now part of Maersk) started building the ship in 1938. The company  was in the process to replace the aging fleet of ships on the Dutch East Indies route, her keel was laid in 1939 at De Schelde shipyard in Vlissingen, Netherlands. Interrupted by

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Dutch immigrant ships to Australia

The following information is available on the DACC database. The major ships bringing Dutch migrants to Australia include: See also: Steam Shipping Lines Australia – Netherlands – starting in 1864 Other Research information: Passengers list: National Archive of Australia Fremantle, Western Australia, Passenger Lists, 1897-1963

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Dutch immigrant ship Johan van Oldenbarnevelt

When she was built in 1929, she was the largest ship yet built in the Netherlands. She had berths for 770 passengers: 366 in first class, 280 in second, 64 in third and 60 in fourth class. She had berths for 360 crew. She had four decks and could carry

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Dutch immigration to Australia, history, stats and other resources

History Unlike England, Scotland, Ireland, Germany, Italy and Greece, there was no mass immigration from the Netherlands in the 19th century. They didn’t suffer from famines, overpopulation or economic depression that forced immigration elsewhere. It was only after WWII, when the economic and political situation in the Netherlands was at

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Willem Frans Theodoor Brijl – merchant captain WWII

Willem Frans Theodoor Brijl was born May 17th, 1897 in Surabaya in the Dutch East-Indies, the son of Frans Hendrik Brijl. In 1910 he left for the Netherlands in order to have his HBS education. September 21st, 1914 he enrolled in the Merchant Navy Academy on the island of Texel.

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Some members of the18 Squadron NEI RAAF

See the profiles and stories of Joop van Doorn and Hans de Vries and Max Horstink. Click here for more information on the 18 Squadron Nederlands East Indies Royal Australia Air Force The following information with thanks to TracesOfWar. Sidney Rudi de Kadt evaded from occupied country the Netherlands to

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Major Jan Willem Zijlstra – Sparrow Force Timor WWII

Military record Born in Malang, Java, on 27 December 1910. Died at “Ladang” House, near Berry, New South Wales, Australia, on October 6, 1965. Army number 102417002 Second lieutenant KNIL Army (31-07-1932),  First Lieutenant (31-07-1935),  Captain. (27-05-1943), Major (17-12-1949).   Well-known decorations: ·         Ereteken Belangrijke/Bijzondere Krijgsbedrijven/-verrichtingen BK,E.1,OHK.3,OV.1,XV,KLO·         Bronze Cross K.B.

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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

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Netherlands Association of Queensland

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

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Patricia Metcalfe and Wim van Wely met at Camp Columbia.

Patricia (Pat) Metcalfe (born 1929 in Cairns) moved to Brisbane when she was 4 years old 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

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A very personal WWII story from Ruth Leah

Our mother met a Dutch pilot during the war.  His name was Fredrik (Pulk) Pelder and there are many mentions of his heroics on the World Wide web.  One instance in particular that was widely publicised, was an escape from Java where Fred and Mendizabal (Canadian), Sgt Stuart Munroe (Australian), Alan

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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The Dutch Australian Society “Abel Tasman” Inc.

The Dutch Australian Society “Abel Tasman” Inc existed from 1969 till approx 2010.  There was already a (short-lived) Dutch Club in Tasmania in the 1950s. Most likely linked to the Dutch settlement ‘Little Groningen’ in Kingston. This history is written by Kees Wierenga during the 00s There was a Dutch

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Dutch Australian Society in Illawarra

The Dutch Australia Society in the Illawarra (DASI) was founded in June 1952 by Dutch migrants who stayed in the Illawarra Hostel. The Society 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

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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.

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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

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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

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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. See other personal stories.

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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

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Dr Chris Roelfsema – preserving reefs in Australia

In June 2022 Dr Chris Roelfsema, Associate Professor at The University of Queensland presented a lecture on ‘Maps Connecting People To Help Save Reefs’. The theme of the lecture indicates the priority that the Netherlands government gives to combatting the consequences of climate change, worldwide. The role of Dutchman Chris Roelfsema in

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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

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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

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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

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Hugo van der Nahmer First Nederlandse Consul in Melbourne (1857).

The wealthy 21 year old arrived in Melbourne, on the ship Canton in 1853. In 1856 the Netherlands Government signed a diplomatic convention with the United Kingdom that allowed for the reciprocal admissions of Consuls in each other colonies and foreign possessions. In 1857, the Dutch government appointed Melbourne-based merchant

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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.

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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

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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

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Paul Budde receives Heritage Volunteer Award – 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,

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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

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Hennik Family on the Zuiderkruis

The Hennik family immigrated to Australia on the Zuiderkruis it has a list of the people on board and the crew signed the page. Dochter Wilhelmina also has the document her dad travelled with. They arrived 17 Feb 1959 at Fremantle and were taken by train to the Woodside Migration Camp just outside Adelaide.

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Mirusia Louwerse – Silver Memories Ambassador

Mirusia is an Australian born Soprano with Dutch heritage. She was born on March 29, 1985 to two Dutch parents in Brisbane, Australia. Her mom is originally from Brabant and her dad from Zeeland. Mirusia’s parents, a boiler-maker and a nurse, moved from The Netherlands in their twenties after being

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The history of DutchCare and MiCare

MiCare {= Migrant Care) is an amalgamation of DutchCare Ltd (1996), Avondrust Incorporated,(1974) Dutch Australian Community Action Incorporated (1984) and the Holland Australian Retirement Foundation Incorporation(1971).

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Dutch Australian Society Neerlandia

Many immigrants were housed by the Australian government in old army camps in various outer suburbs of Sydney. However several Dutch people decided to undertake their new journey on their own and settled in Het Tentenkamp – a privately run camping ground in the Sydney suburb of Narrabeen (now called

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Netherlands Australia Migration Agreement – 1951

The economic and social situation of the Netherlands following World War II generated mass emigration to Australia and Canada. In 1951, the Netherlands Australia Migration Agreement (NAMA) came into effect, under which both the Dutch and Australian governments subsidised migration of the Dutch to Australia. Many immigrants were housed by

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Dutch Australian Heritage Centre – Victoria

The Dutch Australian Heritage Centre (DAHC) was established in 2000 with the aim to collect and display items of recognised significance relating to immigrants who arrived here from the Netherlands and the former Dutch East Indies, with special emphasis on migration in the post WWII period. The DAHC collection consists

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Netherlands Retirement Village Association of Queensland

Netherlands Retirement Village Association of Queensland Consistent with other ethnic groups, a small proportion (6%) of the Dutch elderly is reversing to their language-of-origin. When impaired health, compromised mobility and transport problems are also experienced, it may become difficult or impossible for older people to attend Dutch-specific functions. This may

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Catholic Dutch Migrant Association (CDMA)

The Catholic Dutch Migrant Association (CDMA) was one of the largest and most influential Dutch migrant organisations in Australia during the post-war period. It was established in 1952 to provide social, cultural, and religious support to Dutch migrants and their families, many of whom were Catholics. The CDMA organised a

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The Federation of Netherlands Organisations in Queensland

Social needs of a large proportion of Dutch migrants were historically met by involvement with Dutch-oriented clubs and organisations, most of which were ‘highly compartmentalised’ [verzuiling] into religious affiliated groups, leading to minimal unity and consensus. To foster co-operation while maintaining Dutch culture, The Federation of Netherlands Organisations in Queensland

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Federation of Netherlands Societies

As The Federation of Netherlands Societies Inc is a not for profit organisation any money raised is used to support Dutch migrates, their children and subsequent families who are of Dutch descent. In November 1969 the Federation of Netherland societies was incorporated under the company’s act . The articles of

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Engelandvaarder Kees van Brink (1915-2004)

Cornelis Hendrik ‘Kees’ van Brink (Schiedam, 20 maart 1915 – Sydney (Australië), 11 december 2004) Kees was een geheim agent van MI6 tijdens de Tweede Wereldoorlog. Voor het uitbreken woonde hij in Australië, maar vertrok in juli 1940 naar Engeland en werd in de nacht van 18 op 19 november

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Parental Guidance TV Show – looking for Dutch families

My name is Kate, I’m a Producer on a television show called Parental Guidance. I’m not sure if you caught any of last series. But the basic idea of the show is families coming together to explore different parenting styles through activities and discussion. Last series most of our families

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Nederlandse Vereniging in de Southerland Shire

(Abstract from the organisation’s history) The first gathering took place in August 1953 at the Highway Cafe in Sutherland. Its attendance was so good, the lace was literally overflowing with people and enthusiasm, that this turned out to be the club’s ‘f lying start’. However, money was scarce, but with

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History of the Canberra Dutch Club

The origin from the current club lay with the Wilhelmina Club and the Football Club Hollandia, who shared resources. They split in 1960 and it looks like the club slowly disappeared. Together with a friend I started the current Canberra Dutch club in 1970, It grew exponential and after many

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Dutch Migrant History – Queensland

Like everywhere else in Australia there is also a rich history of the Dutch in Queensland. Many Dutch people settled here after WWII. The Netherlands East Indies Government-in-Exile was based in Wacol, Brisbane and that also resulted in Dutch people staying or coming to Brisbane immediately after the war. In

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Brisbane Lions and its Dutch heritage

The origins of the Brisbane Lions can be traced back to the founding of Hollandia-Inala F.C. by Dutch immigrants in 1957. From the beginning they were based on land in the Brisbane suburb of Darra and then moved to Pine Road, Richlands.

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Ben Morcus Brisbane

Article published in “150 years Richland, Inala, Neighbouring suburbs in Brisbane’s South West by Vicki Mynott – 2009 See other personal stories.

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Interview with Anthropologist Ad Borsboom

The interview (podcast) below is in in Dutch Profile Professor Ad Borsboom *Anthropologist; Research area: Aboriginal Australia. *Chair Pacific Studies Radboud University Nijmegen. *Teaching experience at all levels in Anthropology. *Publications for both scientific and general audiences (books, chapters in books, articles), editorials. See f.e. ‘De Clan van de Wilde

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Dutch TV

Dutch TV is a weekly television program on community TV Channel 31 in Melbourne and Geelong (Australia) and Foxtel Aurora. (Australia wide) They have been broadcasting for 6 years. The program is about Dutch people living in Australia and is presented mostly in Dutch with English subtitles so that we

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Wacol Migrant Centre Remembered 1949-1987

In the immediate post-War World years, refugees from war-torn Europe were resettled in different places across Australia. By 1949, it is estimated that one-tenth of the American/Dutch/Australian Army’s Camp Columbia area became the Wacol East Displaced Persons Holding Camp. In the early 1950s the camp was developed to become the

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Prins Willem Alexander Village Brisbane

The Netherlands Retirement Village Association of Qld Inc. The village, located at 62 Collingwood Road, Birkdale, is owned and operated by the above association. There are 40 independent living units (ILUs) and 44 hostel units. The central building has a well-equipped kitchen, dining-room/lounge, offices and recreation-space. The Dutch Community can

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Isodoor Berkelouw moved the book business to Australia

The story of the famous Berkelouw bookstores goes back to Rotterdam in 1812. Several generations continued and grew the business in the Netherlands. By WWII they had one of the most well know antiquarian book business in Europe. However, during the bombardment of Rotterdam in May 1940, the bookshop was

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Willem Hendrik Paling early Dutch immigrant 1853

Willem Paling (1 September 1825 – 27 August 1895) was born in Woerden, near Rotterdam. He was an accomplished Dutch violinist and composer. He was the son of music publisher and piano builder Jan Hendrik Paling and Aagje Paling. He moved to Sydney in 1853 followed by his brother Richard

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The Sydney Railway Waltz by Willem Paling – 1855

The waltz was composed by Willem H. Paling, who had immigrated to Australia in 1853 from Woerden in the Netherlands. The music was arranged by Robert Evans for the NSW Transport Institute Band. It was first performed at the Railway Ball, 2 October 1855 for the opening of the first

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Five minutes with Jeroen ‘Dutchy’ Hulleman (interview)

Republished with permission from Baking Business. Original article: https://bakingbusiness.com.au/five-minutes-with-jeroen-dutchy-hulleman/ Dutchy’s Bakehouse on the Sunshine Coast not only has a unique product range, with traditional recipes brought over from a long family history of baking in the Netherlands. We spent five minutes with owner Jeroen ‘Dutchy’ Hullemen and found out a

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Righteous Among the Nations

The Righteous Among the Nations, are non-Jews who took great risks to save Jews during the Holocaust. Rescue took many forms and the Righteous came from different nations, religions and walks of life. What they had in common was that they protected their Jewish neighbours at a time when hostility

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Hans Hulsbosch, independent brand designer

Born in Valkenswaard just south of Eindhoven, the Phillips city, age 62 in 2014. Hans married Marianne in the Netherlands before emigration to New Zealand. Marianne’s father had knowledge of Australia and had positive views of the country. Hans was trained in design and advertising and worked principally for a well-known design

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Dick van Leer, People Lover and Entrepreneur

Not long ago, a book was published about Dick under the title The Incredible Life of Dick van Leer.  This very readable account of Dick’s life, a family history really, written jointly with Aubrey Cohen, starts with his birth in 1922 in Surabaya, Dutch East Indies. Dick wasn’t there long though

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Dutch Windmill – Coffs Harbour

In 1968 Mr Franz De Kever, a Dutch architect working in Melbourne and his wife Rie De Kever purchased the six acre site with a view to build a Motel and authentic Dutch restaurant. After completing ten Motel units, construction on the Windmill Restaurant began in 1972. Originally the most

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Dutch Windmill The Lilly – Amelup Western Australia

Pleun Hitzert left ‘s-Gravendeel in 1980 with his wife Hennie and his daughters. Here he built a piece of ‘Hoeksche Waard’. Including a mill, for which the one in his birthplace stood model. He based his final design on De Lelie from his native village Puttershoek, but he also used

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Nederlands Nationaal Archief – Emigratie database

In het Nationaal Archief vind je antwoorden op vragen die betrekking hebben op jouw leven, de geschiedenis van Nederland ook in relatie tot andere landen, en de samenleving. We helpen je aan nieuwe inzichten door je toegang te geven tot het nationaal geheugen. De Nederlandse consulaten in Australië hielden een

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Dutch-Australian Filmmaker Paul Cox 1940-2016

Born on April 16, 1940 in Venlo, Limburg, Netherlands. His father Wim Cox was the publisher of the Catholic newspaper Nieuwe Venlosche Courant.  He was commissioned in 1938 by the chairman of the ‘RK Bond voor Groote Families’ (Catholic Association for Large Families) to make the film Levensgang (‘The Journey

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Dutch-Australian Artist Henk Guth (1921-2002)

Henk Guth was born in Arnhem, Netherlands, and studied there at the Academy of Art and Design from 1938 to 1942. After graduating from the Academy, he moved to Amsterdam to pursue his career. In 1960 he emigrated to Melbourne, and in 1966, moved to Alice Springs, where he opened

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SBS Dutch Radio: Adapting to change by Anneke Boudewijn

This follows: SBS Dutch Radio – Early Days History by Theo ten Brummelaar By Anneke Boudewijn It’s hard to compare SBS Radio today with radio 2EA of the early 1980’s. I joined in 1984, among the first to take Theo’s written language, news and audio test. “Without preparation: Choose a

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DACC Paper-based ARCHIVES

The Dutch Australian Cultural Centre was founded in 1983 and gives as its aims and objectives in its mission statement, the collection, preservation, promotion and dissemination of Dutch culture and heritage in Australia. The Centre immediately started the collection of material for the archives and Library and now, after almost

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Palings Building Brisbane

The Palings Building in these pictures is a heritage-listed retail building located at 86 Queen Street, Brisbane City. It was designed by Richard Gailey as one of a row of four identical buildings that in 1885 replaced the former convict barracks. Paling & Company purchased the music business from Richard

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SBS Audio – 1st generation story Yvon Davis-Kamp

It is said that 30 % of the people who migrate to Australia have returned home again but former SBS Dutch broadcaster Yvon Davis says she has spoken with a few who then came back again, like her parents who emigrated twice! https://www.sbs.com.au/language/english/audio/1st-generation-story-yvon-davis-kamp After you have listened to the audio,

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SBS Audio – 1st generation story: Walter Hes 22-2-2017

Dutchman Walter Hes came to Australia in the 80s and now at the age of 80 he has published his first book. In our next program we will hear more about his book “Resolve” but today he explains what brought him to Australia. https://www.sbs.com.au/language/english/audio/1st-generation-story-walter-hes After you have listened to the

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SBS Audio – First generation stories: Cees Koeman – 21-11-2014

Cees Koeman came here as an eighteen year old seeking adventure. He loved cowboy stories as a child and the assisted passage was just wonderful way to make his dreams come true.    https://www.sbs.com.au/language/english/audio/first-generation-stories-cees-koeman After you have listened to the audio, press the return button to go back to the

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SBS Audio – 1st generation story: from Aruba to Australia – 28-8-2015

After an expat life in Suriname and Aruba it was time to make permanent lifestyle decisions. Although it was not to be a straight road to Australia, Sjoerd en Aditya van der Meulen now call the hills around Bellingen home. (Part 2) https://www.sbs.com.au/language/english/audio/1st-generation-story-from-aruba-to-australia After you have listened to the audio,

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SBS Video – Dr Doorzetter interview on SBS

Dit is Dr Doorzetter – my real name is Dr Edward Tearle. Ik ben een engelse arts op het eiland van Jersey die Nederlands heeft geleerd om met mijn familie te verbinden. Wij allemaal komen tegen problemen en moeilijkheden in het leven. Ik heb deze kanaal gemaakt om mensen te

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SBS Video – Petronella Wensing, Dutch migrant to Australia

Description: : Petronella Wensing and her husband Michael – a painter – migrated from the Netherlands to Australia in 1953. They travelled with their two children, and their third was born the day after the family’s arrival at Scheyville Migrant Centre. Petronella has studied and taught lacemaking, and is an

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SBS Video – 2013 in vogelvlucht

Een klein overzicht van SBSDutch in 2013. Stonden we er niet gekleurd op met de 15 meter hoge NL badkuip eend in Darling Harbour? Jaren werd er gewerkt aan de poppen voor de tentoonstelling Echos of the Past. In Melbourne ging de reizende tentoonstelling Anne Frank in premiere. De NL

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DACC interest in migration museum Powerhouse Museum – 2016

Mr. Robert Borsak, Chair, Inquiry into NSW Museums and Galleries, Legislative Council, NSW Government, Parliament House, Sydney.                                                                              8th July 2016 Dear Mr. Borsak, We are making a submission to this Inquiry. Our understanding is that the Inquiry will address the question of the location of Powerhouse Museum and will

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50 Anniversary of the liberation of Netherlands East Indies

In 1995 the Dutch Australian Cultural Centre organised a 50 year liberation in the Dutch East Indies commemoration at their premises in the Abel Tasman Village (ATV) at Chester Hill. Several weeks later the DAW published a double page spread review of several commemorations around the country including the one

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