Camp Columbia at Wacol played many roles during and after the Second World War. It was the headquarters of the United States Sixth Army, the training site of its Officers School, and by 1945 it had become the seat of the Netherlands East Indies Government-in-Exile. It was also the main centre for the Netherlands Indies […]
From Camp Columbia to Dutch New Guinea: the journey of Piet Merkelijn Read More »
During the Second World War, Camp Columbia at Wacol was more than the headquarters of General MacArthur’s Sixth Army. It also housed the American Officer Candidate School, a facility with classrooms, lecture halls and barracks that trained thousands of young Allied officers. When the Netherlands Indies Government-in-Exile moved to Australia in 1942, the Dutch quickly
Memories of Camp Columbia: Jan Staal’s account of 1945 The memoirs of Colonel Jan Staal (Royal Netherlands Air Force, retired), who had earlier served as a captain-pilot-observer with the Military Aviation of the Netherlands East Indies (ML-KNIL), offer a rare first-hand account of Camp Columbia in Brisbane at the close of the Second World War.
Rare insights into the Dutch occupation of Camp Columbia in 1945 Read More »
In October 2024, Dutch journalist and copywriter Jorien Wallast published a groundbreaking work titled Saluut Batavia: Het verhaal van de vrouwelijke KNIL-soldaten (Salute Batavia: The story of the female KNIL soldiers), offering a rare window into a little-known facet of Dutch post-war military history. This non-fiction book explores the experience of young women who joined
Saluut Batavia – Uncovering the untold story of female KNIL soldiers in Indonesia Read More »
Turning commemoration into opportunity: defence ties in 2027, global heritage in 2032 The Allied Co-operation in Brisbane during WWII: Australia, USA, Netherlands, UK symposium, held at the University of Queensland on 30–31 August 2025, brought together a full house of delegates, historians, community representatives, and descendants to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of
From Symposium to Strategy: Securing Brisbane’s Place as WWII Allied Capital Read More »
At the upcoming “Allied Co-operation in Brisbane during WWII” International Symposium, to be held on 30–31 August 2025 at the University of Queensland’s St Lucia campus, visitors will have a unique opportunity to view a remarkable historical artefact: a 19th-century ceremonial sword from the Netherlands East Indies. This will be the first time the sword
Hendrik Johan de Haas was born in Batavia (now Jakarta) on 28 November 1904, the son of Jozef Hendrik de Haas and Johanna Frederika Susanna Jostein. He married Hendrina Maria van der Meer Mohr in Batoeroesa on 2 January 1911. The couple had two children: Robert Johan (born 28 December 1932, died 15 November 1937)
Hendrik Johan de Haas – Dutch officer at NEFIS Camp Columbia Read More »
The Netherlands Forces Intelligence Service (NEFIS) was the wartime intelligence arm of the Netherlands East Indies (NEI) government-in-exile. It emerged after the collapse of the NEI in early 1942, when Dutch civil and military authorities relocated to Australia. NEFIS became the centre of Dutch intelligence, propaganda, and special operations in the South West Pacific Area
We are pleased to share a feature article , now available on the website of our researcher Ingeborg van Teeseling: Australia Explained. This comprehensive piece brings together historical insights and personal recollections to highlight the unique international role of Camp Columbia during and after World War II. From American and Dutch military operations to the
Camp Columbia – a wartime crossroads on Brisbane’s doorstep Read More »
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Dr Jonathan (Jack) Ford on 29 June 2025, at his home in Brisbane. Jack had recently returned from hospital following heart treatment and, when we last spoke two days before his untimely death, he told me that the new medication had given him a
Vale Dr Jonathan (Jack) Ford Read More »
Brisbane 16 August 1945. Approximately 10,000 men and women of the fighting services of five nations took part in a victory march through the city streets. The salute was taken by the Governor of Queensland, Sir Leslie Wilson. Shown, the Netherlands East Indies Army contingent passing the saluting base. Brisbane’s Victory March: 16 August 1945
NEI Army at Victory Parade in Brisbane – 16 August 1945 Read More »
In 1944, the United States War Department published a small but detailed booklet titled Pocket Guide to the Netherlands East Indies. Produced as part of a broader series of cultural guides for American troops deployed overseas, this 80 pages booklet was designed to familiarise servicemen with the geography, people, customs, and political structure of the
The 1944 US Military Pocket Guide to the Netherlands East Indies Read More »
Among the many functions of the Netherlands East government-in-exile based at Camp Columbia in Brisbane during World War II, one of the most strategically significant—and least remembered—was the work of NIGIS, the Netherlands Indies Government Information Service. Operating in close cooperation with Allied information and propaganda units, NIGIS served as the Dutch government’s voice to
NIGIS: the Dutch wartime voice from Brisbane Read More »
During World War II, as the Japanese occupation swept through the Dutch East Indies (modern-day Indonesia), the Netherlands government-in-exile faced a daunting challenge: how to maintain control and provide administrative continuity in the occupied territory. Out of this necessity, the Netherlands Indies Civil Administration (NICA) was born. Established in 1944 and operating initially from Australia,
The Netherlands Indies Civil Administration (NICA) WWII – Established at Camp Columbia Read More »
Sailors Boesidien and Samanuddin were members of the Netherlands Merchant Navy during World War II and are interred at Toowong Cemetery in Brisbane. Their service highlights the significant role of Dutch merchant vessels in the Allied efforts in the Pacific. Boesidiwn (1909–1942): Born in Bengkalan, Java, Boesidien served aboard the MV Maetsuycker, a vessel of
Dutch Sailors interred at Toowong Cemetery Read More »
Brisbane played a pivotal role as a strategic hub for Allied communication networks during World War II, hosting critical radio transmitting and receiving stations that facilitated the exchange of intelligence, operational orders, and coordination across the Pacific theatre. Managed by the United States Army Signal Corps, these facilities were complemented by independent networks operated by
Radio Communication in Brisbane During World War II Read More »
The Japanese invasion of the Netherlands East Indies (NEI) in early 1942 led to the rapid collapse of Dutch military resistance. However, a strategic legal manoeuvre by the Dutch colonial government ensured that its sovereignty was never officially ceded to Japan. This distinction would have profound implications for the Netherlands’ post-war claims in Indonesia and
Military Air Transport in Australia started soon before the fall of the Netherlands East Indies (NEI). In the few months before this happened evacuations started to happen, mainly of Dutch civilian personnel including families of the Royal Netherlands East Indies Airline (KNILM). These civil aircrafts became the earliest core of military air transport in Australia.
Nederlands Military Air Transport Services at Archerfield – WWII Read More »
Soon after the liberation of the southern Netherlands, on 14 September 1944, the Dutch Queen Wilhelmina decreed from London the official formation of a NEI government-in-Exile. This replaced the Netherlands East Indies Commission for Australia and New Zealand (NEICANZ) as it was established in 1942 in essence not much changed structurally and the renamed entity remained led
Netherlands East Indies Government-in-Exile in Australia (1944-1946) Read More »
(In 1942) When the Japanese overran the Netherlands East Indies, 14 officials from the NEI administration were ordered to escape to Australia. After April 1944, when the US 6th Army transferred its headquarters to Hollandia (in New Guinea), Camp Columbia was o erred to the Dutch. On 14 September 1944, Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands
The Dutch at Camp Columbia Wacol Read More »
