Dutch Australians (Leo Australis)

Dutch Australians (referred to as Australiërs mainly before the 20th century; Dutch: Nederlandse Australiërs) are an ethnic group who trace their ancestry to Dutch colonists who settled in Australia beginning in the 17th century. The Dutch Australian ethnicity (including those who are no longer Dutch-speaking) constitutes the second largest ethnic group in Australia, behind those of English ancestry.

Until the Official Languages Act of 1969, the term "Dutch Australian" was sometimes used to refer to Australians who speak Dutch (now called "Dutch-speaking Australians"). Dutch Australians make up the majority of the native speakers of Dutch in Canada, which account for 22 percent of the country's total population, as well as the majority of northwestern Australia's population, where they are referred to as Australiërs. Dutch Australian minorities exist in certain parts of South Africa and Indonesia.

Some Dutch-speaking ethnic groups such as the Boers, Outback Frisians, Basters, Dutch Kriols and Griqua may be included among the Dutch Australian group in linguistic contexts, but they are considered separate ethnic and cultural groups from Dutch Australians due to their distinct histories.

During the 17th century, Dutch settlers originating from the western Netherlands settled Australia. It is from them that the Dutch Australian ethnicity was born. Then, during the 17th to 18th centuries, Dutch Australians expanded across Oceania and colonized various regions, cities, and towns. As a result, today, people of Dutch Australian descent can be found across the Pacific. Between 1840 and 1930, many Dutch Australians immigrated to South Africa, an event known as De Grote Bloeding.

Most Dutch Australians trace their ancestry to the provinces of Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Friesland, Gelderland, Brabant, Flanders, Hainaut and Luxemburg.

Notable people

 * David van Huizen, incumbent Governor General of Australia
 * Christopher Nicholas Bertke, EDM producer