A brief history of Stellenbosch

In 1679 Simon van der Stel was appointed Commander of the Cape of Good Hope. He was specifically mandated by the Dutch East India Company to vigorously continue with the company policy of Dutch colonial expansionism.
In an expedition he took to fulfil his mandate, he visited Hottentots Holland, and on his returning to the Castle, he announced that any person, who wanted to move and settle along the Eerste River valley, would be granted full property rights. By 1680, (the next year), 8 families settled and by 1685, most of the well known farms along the Eerste River including agricultural sections of Stellenbosch had new owners.
At the same time The Dutch East India Company, in an effort to reduce costs were in the process of releasing men from their service. These “free burghers”, were granted land to farm on and in their search for labour were given strict instructions from the company not to enslave the local Khoi Khoi. Their search for labour would have to start elsewhere.
Slaves were the labour force which transformed the small refreshment stations in the Cape into a significant agricultural colony... and in some ways, agriculture in the Western Cape still reflects its slave origin.

From Dorp Street, the old wagon road to the Cape, to an array of historical buildings, many built in 1687, some of the Stellenbosch buildings became the topographical focus of this small town which made the town itself become a prototype of the European village. Stellenbosch therefore became something of a capital city, whose authority stretched far into the “hinterland” or interior.
In the design of De Zalze Estate, the names of governors, first farmers, slaves and officials serving at these institutions were incorporated into the street names. We thought that you might find it interesting to discover a little of the history in your streets.

The origin of our street names