Towns and suburbs

Van Rhynsdorp

Origins of the Dop payment system.

History of Van Rhynsdorp

Province: Western Cape
West coast
Coordinates:31°37′S 18°44′E
Area:5.99 km2
Municipality: Matzikama

European explorers.

The area of Van Rhynsdorp was first explored by Europeans in 1661 led by Pieter van Meerhoff. It was first called Trutro (“TroeTroe”) The Troe-Troe Zending (“Mission”) dates back to the 1751 completion of the Trutro Homestead which is still standing. The name was changed to Van Rhynsdorp in 1881 to honour Van Rhijn who made valuable contributions to the town as a church leader and community member.
Many of Van Rhynsdorp‘s indigenous Khoe population sadly are victims of alcoholism.  The European colonists created apartheid and evicted the indigenous Khoe from their lands; European colonist farmers employed local indigenous Khoe people and paid them with alcohol and the cycle has been passed down through generations.

Evidence of ancient inhabitants in the area

The Khoe people are, along with the San, the earliest residents of South Africa and are in fact the oldest race on Earth. The mountains around the town were populated by the San people, a group of late stone age hunter-gatherers. Examples of rock art dating from this period exist in the area.

Things to do and see in Van Rhynsdorp

  • The Gifberg pass
  • Tierberg pass
  • . Visit the world-famous nurseries
  • Van Rhyn Museum and Old Jail
  • Discover buildings dating back as far as the 1700s.
  • War graves.

The license plate prefix for Van Rhynsdorp is CCP

WEATHER IN VAN RHYNSDORP TODAY

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Useful Numbers

  • Police: 027 219 8031
  • Municipality; 027 219 1030
  • Traffic department:027 201 3432
  • Fire
  • Water: 027 201 3404/3401
  • Electricity:082 323 7463
  • Ambulance:10177
  • Post office; 027 219 1460
  • Library:0272013466
  • Closest hospital; 027 213 2036 clinic 027 219 1733
  • Pharmacy;027 219 2969
  • SPCA: Matzikama Dierebeskerming 027 213 4182
  • Schools:
  • Vanrhynsdorp high 027 219 1010
  • Maskam primary 027 219 1440
  • Museums;
  • The old jail 027 219 1048
  • Latsky radio museum 4 church st 027 219 1032
  • Info centre; 027 201 3371
  • Tourism; 027 201 3371

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