From the Netherlands to Australia
In the years after the Second World War the Netherlands economy was looking very bleak. Then in 1953 the North Sea flood devastated the Netherlands. The flooding of islands and polders killed 1,835 people and forced the evacuation of 70,000 more. An estimated 10,000 animals drowned, and 4,500 buildings were destroyed. This was an important motive for Dutch people to look elsewhere to build a future. Many chose Australia, which at that moment was in urgent need of labour for the metal and farming industries. The Dutch government stimulated the emigration program due to their own problems in the farming sector and the increasing population.
1950: Whoever was listening to the radio on the First of January, would have heard the Prime Minister Willem Dress in a speech declare ‘A part of our people have braved, as we have done before centuries ago, to seek out their future in bigger countries than our own’.
I am researching the Aalbrecht, Wynbergen, van Wijnbergen and Pellikaan family from the Netherlands and Australia.
Any information would be appreciated. I am also willing to share the information that I have.
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