The Dutch Masters...so the Dutch conquered Australia after all

Amazing pieces of art and thanks for the history lesson!
If I were around I would certainly go and see the exhibition, especially Rembrandt, incredible how he was able to play with light and shade. And in fact it would be interesting what it would have been like had the Dutch conquered Australia. Thanks for the brief outline of Australian/Dutch/British history here! I have to say that the prisoners from England turned into a really friendly people, I always love coming to Oz, especially for the Aussies.

Interesting to Contemplate
What an interesting thought. Had the Dutch stayed to colonize Australia, how different it would be. I see a movie in the making. Can the Dancer Direct???

Wow! That's a lot of art...
but you might want to rethink being Dutch, especially in the 1600's. They ignored Australia because they found a much greater prize...the Spice Islands. The greatest of these was Banda Island which was the only place that nutmeg could be found in the world and nutmeg was worth more than its weight in gold. Unfortunately, this was the one island in the entire East Indies that the English had claimed. The Dutch wanted it and attacked and tortured the East India Company employees mercilessly. Finally the Royal Fleet could not sustain protection of the East India Company, so England traded Banda Island for Manhattan Island. So your forbearers got the better deal in the end economically until the little matter of a Revolution! I understand the Dutch are much nicer now, so you should meet your daughter's boyfriend...soon.

Amazing
Beauty

There can only be one Dutch, and that is me!
And what would have happened if the Dutch had colonised Australia... Hmmm... Let me think, aboriginals killed off, perhaps a bit of apartheid thrown in for good measure, some guilt at the end of it all, and canabis free for all. Basically the same as when the Brits colonised it, minus the hemp at the end. But don't worry the Dutch would never have colonised it, if they couldn't make a buck out of it it wasn't worth their effort. The Dutch were traders, not colonists, which they found a nuisance as it just cost them money. The only reason the Cape was colonised was to provide fresh veggies for the ships passing by. All that aside, do come to Holland, there are plenty of museums, not just in Amsterdam, and come in spring to see art in nature, the fields of flowers as you fly in are like a Mondrian from above.

Connections
I like this. Interesting content. I feel a connection. You mentioned La Perouse and Botany Bay and Joseph Banks the 'botanist' whose drawings of unique flora and fauna captured English imaginations. I live (as a botanist) on the frozen shores of Hudson Bay in Churchill, where La Perouse sailed in 1782 to destroy the Hudson's Bay Company fort that stood on the bank of the Churchill River. I also used to live in Holland in the 90s - I could've been a Dutchy-Dave. However, as far as a Dancing Dutchman goes, well, there already is a Flying Dutchman, so why not? Dave

Don't feel too rejected...
Haha I was about to say they didn't want you because they wanted me... but I see Bob and Ralf have beaten me to it :) Their plundering and pillaging of South and South East Asia clearly took precedence, but as colonial masters go, they're rated better than the Portuguese but worse than the British (by Sri Lankans anyway). Hope the travel gods smile on your travel plans, I'll be awaiting the photos of the Channel swim :)

I can recommend the Rembrandt House Museum in Amsterdam
If you are oing to visit Amsterdam and haven't seen the Rembrandt House Museum I can recommend it. It is in his old house, everythng is very true to how it looked like when RvR lived there however nothing is original. It is still worth a visit if you are a bit interested in art and you find yourself in Amsterdam. /Ake

Dutch were great explorer.
Interesting blog Dave, Dutch have settled down in some parts of Asia too. When I was in Taiwan I read the history of the country.

Interesting "What If" Scenario
Regardless of how it would have turned out though, those are some marvellous pieces of art. :)

Cataloguing the Art
Dave , you did a really good job of cataloguing the fabulous pictures you saw. I often take the photos and then later wish I had written down which ones were which ! Dutch Masters ..absolutely awesome. I saw an exhibition Vermeer and his Women a few years ago , and also got to see Girl with Pearl Earring in SAN Francisco when I was there ...sublime . I wonder what is on exhibition when I will be in Sydney , a week in October and then Xmas / NY time. Will PM you about possible meeting up.