Dirk Hartog 1616–2016: 400 years of Dutch-Australian connections | National Library of Australia (NLA)

Dirk Hartog 1616–2016: 400 years of Dutch-Australian connections

About this module

This module uses an inquiry-based approach to help students develop their skills as historians by exploring Dutch–Australian connections over the past 410 years. Through a rich selection of sources from the National Library of Australia’s collection, students investigate topics such as Dutch–Australian cooperation in World War II, Dutch experiences in Australia, and the contributions of Dutch migrants to Australia’s national story. Flexible student activities support diverse learning styles and classroom contexts, encouraging students to draw their own conclusions from the evidence.

Digital Classroom: Dirk Hartog 1616-2016 - 400 years of Dutch-Australian connections

Copyright for teachers

You can download all collection materials in this resource for education purposes. For more information, go to copyright for teachers.

Topics in this module

black and white photograph of japanese world war two plane

Mitsubishi A6M Zero-Sen, a Japanese single seat monoplane fighter, 1940, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-144931273

Dutch–Australian connections in World War II

Topic

As World War II broke out across Europe in 1939, the Dutch had initially remained neutral. When Germany occupied the Netherlands in 1940, the Dutch lost the ability to defend their colonies in the Netherlands East Indies.

Digital Classroom
The world famous pop group the Easybeats visited the CBN 8 CWN Channel 6 studios in 1970 for a tape session to be included in a local programme

Stephen Fleay, The Easybeats rehearsing at the CBN 8 and CWN 6 television studios, Orange, New South Wales, 1970, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-151176759

Dutch experiences in Australia

Topic

After World War II, the people of the Netherlands found themselves with a long journey ahead of them, resurrecting a war-ravaged country that was struggling to overcome recent famine and mass casualties in the Holocaust.

Digital Classroom

Curriculum links

This resource is aligned with the Australian Curriculum: History for Year 10 students.

The resource also has relevance to the English and the Civics and Citizenship learning areas and to the General Capabilities of Literacy, Critical and Creative Thinking, Intercultural Understanding, and Personal and Social Capability.

  • The significance of World War II to Australia’s international relationships in the twentieth century, with particular reference to the United Nations, Britain, the USA and Asia (ACDSEH110)

  • The waves of post-World War II migration to Australia, including the influence of significant world events (ACDSEH144)
  • The impact of changing government policies on Australia’s migration patterns, including abolition of the White Australia Policy, ‘Populate or Perish’ (ACDSEH145)
  • The contribution of migration to Australia’s changing identity as a nation and to its international relationships (ACDSEH147)
Logo saying Dirk Hartog, 1616-2016, Marking our history, celebrating our future

Acknowledgement

This resource has been generously supported by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Australia, to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the arrival of Dirk Hartog on the West Australian coast in 1616.

Page published: 21 May 2025

Need help?

Our librarians are here to guide you.

Ask a librarian