The history of the WWII is reflected in the role of the Dutch as the “Fourth Ally” in the South Pacific and the formation of the Dutch East Indies Government in exile in Australia, soon after the surrender of the Dutch colony to the Japanese. This brought an influx of perhaps as much 20,000 people from Dutch East Indies.
This episode was followed by the turbulent developments in relation to the independence of Indonesia where Australia and the Netherlands often found themselves on opposite sides. This situation reoccurred when Indonesia annexed Dutch Papua New Guinea in the early 1960s.
Compagnie Batavia – 73rd Living History Reenactment group
The Group participated in the Winterfest at the Hawkesbury showground in July 2022. They were portraying the Dutch Militia of the 30 year war period (1600-1630’s) as Pike and Musket (Pictures below). Facebook site.
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
The “Pulk” – a 18 NEI Squadron RAAF version aircraft wants to fly again
scroll to the bottom for more information 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. The original “Pulk” was named after the Dutch B-25 pilot, Fred “Pulk” Pelder (this nickname
Dutch history of Archerfield Airport Brisbane presentations and Tour of the Heritage Room
Organised by Dutchlink Brisbane on 22 July from 2pm till 4pm 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 is linked to
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
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
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
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
The 18 NEI Squadron RAAF
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.
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
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
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.
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
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
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
80th commemoration – The Drama of Broome 3-3-1942
On 3 March 1942 Japanese Zero bombers arrived and within 15 minutes bombed 23 Alied aircrafts that were either laying in the Roebuck bay or which were parked on the aerodrome. Approx half of them were NEI airplanes, between 35 and 40 Dutch people were killed in the raid and some 60+ were badly injured.
80th commemoration – Darwin bombing, part of the Japanese invasion of Netherlands East Indies.
A little-known fact is that the bombing of Darwin (19-2-1942) was part of the battle of Netherlands East Indies (NEI – now Indonesia). The Japanese wanted to get control of the rich oil fields of this country that counted for 25% of the global oil production. At this point in time the war against the Japanese invasions was undertaken by the ABDA Allied Forces (Americans, British, Dutch and Australians).
Joop van Doorn 18 NEI Squadron RAAF
Joop van Doorn was posted to Java in 1937 and flew Glen Martins, Lockheed Lodestars and Mitchell B-25. Joop and pilot Yves Henri Mulder (nickname Bels as he came from Belgium – he was killed in action in 1944) ferried British Field Marshal Archibald Percival Wavell to Singapore for the ABDA
Fall of Singapore – Dutch fighting alongside its Allies
The American-British-Dutch-Australian (ABDA) Command, or ABDACOM, was a short-lived, supreme command for all Allied forces in Southeast Asia in early 1942, it had been established on 7 December 1941. ABDA became operational following the declaration of war by the four nations on 1 January 1942.
Archaeological research launched at Dutch WWII Camp Columbia Brisbane
Late last year the Honorary Consul of the Netherlands in Queensland Marjon Wind launched the groundwork for the archaeological projected conducted by the University of Queensland at the WWII HQ of the Netherlands East Indies Government-in-Exile at Camp Columbia in Wacol, Brisbane.
Consuls, Envoys and Ambassadors of the Netherlands in Australia since 1853
Pierre van der Eng, Australian National University It took until 1951 for The Netherlands to establish diplomatic representation in Australia in the form of an accredited ambassador. Depending on the issue, bilateral diplomatic matters were dealt with through the Dutch embassy in London until the 1940s, either through British public
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
Dutch in WWII Battle of Milne Bay – 1942
Operation Lilliput also known the Battle of Milne Bay was the first time that Allied Forces were able to stop the Japanese advance in the Pacific. While the Battle is well recognised, the Dutch participation in the battle is not very well known This the abstract from the book Allies
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
Algemene Vereniging Oud-personeel van de Koninklijke Marine
AVOM’ is known in Australia as the Association of Ex-Royal Dutch Navy personnel. The Australian branch has been established in 1996 and was recognised by the Chief Directorate in the Netherlands in 1997. In 2000 the association has approximately 4000 members, mostly in the Netherlands with a small portion all
Netherlands Ex-Servicemen and Women’s Association in Australia
NESWA is an association of men and women in Australia who, at an earlier stage in life, served their country in the Dutch Armed Forces, be it Army, Navy or Air Force, korps Mariniers’ (Marines), or the KNIL (Royal Dutch East Indies Army). Also ex-personnel of the Merchant Navy, members
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
Historical overview of Dutch consular service in Queensland
The Dutch Republic has sent representatives to foreign lands since 1584 and it was the first country to regulate consular services by statute. After the restoration of Dutch independence in 1813, consular services were revived in 1814 (with additional regulations in 1846 and 1874). The Netherlands was among the many
Dutch-Australian ballerinas performing for WWII Allied troops
Born as Maria Louisa Frederika, “Darja” Collin (November 19, 1902 – May 6, 1967) was a Dutch ballet dancer and classical ballet teacher. She had been trained in classical ballet (studying under Preobrajenska and Trefilova), and also in Mary Wigman’s school. Collin was a famous dancer in the 1920s and
Julius Tahija was one of the few NEI men who received the Netherlands highest military order.
Julius Tahija (13 July 1916 – 30 July 2002) was an Indonesian businessman, politician and soldier. He was a recipient of the Military Order of William for his actions in the Dutch East Indies campaign while serving in the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army and was the only Indonesian in
Dutch fly in formation under Sydney Harbour Bridge – May 1942
Nicholas Dijkstra tells the story about flying in formation under the Sydney Harbour Bridge. In May 1942, two US ‘Kittyhawks’ flew under the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Nobody had done that before! Several Dutch and Dutch East Indies KLM and KNILM pilots were to make a short flight over Sydney for
Archaeological research NEI Camp Columbia Wacol Brisbane
When the Japanese invaded Netherlands East Indie (NEI) in 1942, most members of the NEI Government had been able to flee to Australia and organised themselves in Melbourne. Following hastily established diplomatic relationships in January 1942, the Australian Labor Government offered the Dutch almost unlimited support in relation to facilities
Discussion on a new electoral system with lessons learned from the Netherlands
Professor Klaas Woldring has written a book on How to improve Australia’s Democracy . The book is a progressive statement advocating major governance system change for Australia. There is an Introductory Chapter which sets out why the pandemic has (1) opened up a situation conducive to considering major political system
Dan van Holst Pellekaan appointed as Deputy Premier of South Australia
The South Australian Mining and Energy Minister Dan van Holst Pellekaan has been appointed as Deputy Premier of South Australia. He was born in Canberra, to a Dutch father who had emigrated to Australia at the age of two. His father J. W. van Hoist Pellekaan was a departmental secretary
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
Is Australia facing a bout of the Dutch Disease?
Over the course of 2020 and 2021, the Australian press has regularly been referring to the Dutch Disease. So, it interesting to see what this means and where the expression comes from It is a way of describing the paradox which occurs when good news, such as the discovery of
Joris Ivens – Doco Indonesia Calling
Ivens came to Australia in early 1945 as the Netherlands East Indies(NEI) Film Commissioner, to document the re-colonisation effort of the Dutch Indies from Australia. He was employed by the NEI Government Information Service (NIGIS) in Melbourne they had 128 staff—25 of these ‘Indonesians’—(a branch office of three in Sydney),
Navigating the 6.6 trillion Foreign Exchange Market
September 23 | 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM Is your business trading internationally? Are you selling in one country and subsequently needing the money in another country? Every day, 6.6 trillion is traded internationally in foreign currencies and we all play our part in it. We are thrilled to have Axel van
Samuel Jacob – Merauke, a plane crash and the ‘White Australia Policy’
Samuel Jacob, born in Ambon was a headmaster in Merauke, Dutch New Guinea a job he combined with being a local civil administrator. Together with his family he was evacuated in August 1942 to Australia. Here he worked with the NEI government-in-exile for the re-building of Indonesia after the war.
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
Dutch warship participates in Australian naval exercise Sept. 2021
HNLMS Evertsen (F805) (Dutch: Zr.Ms. Evertsen) is the fourth De Zeven Provinciën-class frigate of the Royal Netherlands Navy. It together with 5 other nations is particiapting in naval excercise to the north of Australia. The four De Zeven Provinciën-class frigates are highly advanced air-defence and command frigates in service with
SBS Video – Dutch Politician – Boris Dittrich (in Sydney) vertelt over zijn nieuwe boek Moord en Brand
Boris Dittrich, Advocacy Director LGBT rights program Human Rights Watch, talk about his work – visit to Canberra and the plans of Human Rights to establish a Sydney office. This is a YouTube video. After playing the video, press the return button to go back to the DACC Hub.
SBS Video – Broome honours the fallen and survivors of 1942 – 7-3-2012
3 March 1942, the Japanese attack on Broome. 70 years later the WA government, Federal Australian, Dutch and American governments honour the fallen and survivors. This is a YouTube video. After playing the video, press the return button to go back to the DACC Hub.
SBS Video – Dutch PM Mark Rutte visits Australia 8-11-2014
Exclusive interview in DUTCH with Dutch PM Mark Rutte recorded November 2104 in Canberra during his 2 day visit to Australia. He talks about a possible royal visit in 2016 to coincide with celebrations to mark the 400th anniversary of Dutch sailor and explorer, Dirk Hartog landing on Australian soil.The
Misprint in Indonesian independence and KLM stamps
This is an interesting Indonesian stamp album. It is commemorating the first anniversary of the Indonesian revolutionaries declaration of independence in 1945 on the 17th of august. The album is more a public relations and propaganda exercise than a philatelic one. There is an interesting angle in that there is
Prison management in the Netherlands. Example for Australia?
As previously reported, the Dutch prison system is suffering a curious problem: they don’t have enough inmates, so they’re closing down prisons. In 2014, the government shutdown 19 facilities, while in 2009, they closed the doors on eight. And in March this year, the Dutch government announced that five more
Netherlands Political System of Proportional Representation
Proportional Representation – Party List The Westminster legacy: Single Member Districts. What that means currently: In many seats the Member does NOT represent the majority – and the minority is often NOT represented by the Opposite party either. It is also incorrect to claim that a local MP represents all
The Dutch at Archerfield Airport, Brisbane
Australian and Dutch history meet at Archerfield Airport in Brisbane. During WWII this airfield played a critical role for the Dutch military who, after the Japanese armed forces occupied the Dutch colony of Netherlands East Indies (now Indonesia) to neighboring Australia. Over 20.000 people from NEI evacuated to Australia. Poor
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
Dutch Australian History – Dutch East Indies and WWII
This essay will discuss historical events during and shortly after WWII that brought Australia, the Netherlands and the emerging country of Indonesia together in a complex and often messy set of international affairs.