The Dutch Club Brisbane has voted to move ahead with plans to reshape its long-standing Richlands home, with members backing a proposal to subdivide part of the club’s Pine Road land and build a new modern clubhouse on the remaining site.
Members of the Netherlands Association of Queensland Inc, known locally as the Dutch Club Brisbane, supported the proposal at an extraordinary general meeting on Sunday, 3 May.
Under the plan, part of the club’s approximately 6200sqm property at 123 Pine Road, Richlands, would be sold to Queensland Lions Football Club, while the Dutch Club would retain part of the land for new facilities.
The club said it would continue operating from its existing premises while the project moves through legal, planning, development and building approval stages.
The expected timeframe is about 12 months to two years, subject to approvals and professional advice.
Long-time member and volunteer Dory Groenenberg said the original move to Richlands had given Dutch families a new sense of home.
“When the club moved to Richlands in 1984, it became a real home for many of us,” Ms Groenenberg said.
“In the early days we had simple setups with trestle tables and benches, but there was always a great atmosphere.
“Over the years I’ve volunteered at many events, especially making poffertjes, and the club has always been about bringing people together.
“This new chapter is a big step, but it’s the right one to keep that sense of gezelligheid going into the future.”
Gezelligheid is a Dutch word often used to describe warmth, belonging and togetherness.
The proposal aims to honour the history of the Dutch Club while planning responsibly for the future.
The Dutch Club has been based at Pine Road since December 1984, after previously occupying locations including Mary Street, Milton and at Sherwood.
The association traces its beginnings to 1952, when Dutch residents in Brisbane formed a social and cultural group that grew into a broader community organisation.
The club has long served as a meeting place for Dutch migrants, descendants and people interested in Dutch culture, hosting social events, language and heritage activities, celebrations and community functions.
The proposal also carries a local historical link through Queensland Lions Football Club, which was founded by Dutch immigrants in 1957 as Hollandia.
The football club’s history is closely tied to Richlands and Pine Road, and it later played a key role in the formation of Brisbane Roar.
Discussions about the future of the Pine Road site had taken place over many years, with the current proposal offering a practical way to modernise the club’s facilities while keeping the organisation in Richlands.
