Who would have thought that when Jan van Riebeek sailed into, what is now, Table Bay and saw Table Mountain for the first time (artist’s impression of an untouched wonder as he would have seen above) that he gave birth to the magical city of Cape Town!
Today, the 6th April, marks the day that van Riebeek and his three ships landed in the Cape to set up a small trading post for ships on their journey to the spice kingdoms of the east. He built many of Cape Town’s gems, the Castle, the Company Gardens and much of the street layout that dictates the flow (when there is any) of Cape Town’s traffic.
Putting aside all the unpleasantness that followed, I think Jan and his crew would be quite chuffed with themselves if they were to look at how far we have come. Cape Town is a global powerhouse of style, business and creativity.
With dutch roots, Koikoi influences, Xhosa, French, Malay, British and Portuguese influences having moulded the settlement and the people who called it home I think it is fair to give a nod to Jan on a job well done. Clearly he knew what estate agents tell would-be Capetonian homeowners all the time… Location. Location. Location. Mountain views, seaside living and a rich culture that really makes this, the Mother of all cities.
In the interests of accuracy, the image above is not of Jan van Riebeeck but is of Bartholomew Vermuyden, whose portrait is at the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Artist Dirck Craey.
The image of Jan van Riebeeck is attached.