Former colony, Australian, cheers being claimed by the Netherlands (5)
I believe the answer is:
natal
'former colony' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both locations as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps there's a link between them I don't understand?
'australian cheers being claimed by the netherlands' is the wordplay.
'australian' becomes 'A' (common abbreviation).
'cheers' becomes 'ta' (both can informally mean thank you).
'being claimed by' indicates putting letters inside (inserted letters are held or claimed).
'the netherlands' becomes 'nl'.
'a'+'ta'='ata'
'ata' inserted within 'nl' is 'NATAL'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for natal that I've seen before include "Pertaining to birth" , "Former African place" , "Of or from one's birth - in S African province" , "Relating to birth - former South African province" , "Native" .)