Jan van Riebeeck

This travelbug started his journey in the footsteps of Jan van Riebeeck in a geocache in the Jan van Riebeecklaan in Gouda, Holland and wishes to travel towards the Cape. 

AnthoniszoonJohan (Jan) van Riebeeck (Culemborg April 21,1619 - Batavia,Jan.18,1677) was a merchant and surgeon employed by the VOC. In 1652 he founded the first European trading post in South Africa. The settlement at Cape of Good Hope would become the Cape Colony and eventually to the present Republic of SouthAfrica.

On December 16, 1651 Jan van Riebeeck went on board the Dromedaris. He was sent to set up a refreshmentstation at the Cape of Good Hope. On April 6,1652 Van Riebeeck landed atTable Bay. This natural bay is notorious for its dangerous currents and penal colony of Robben Island.
In the service of the VOC van Riebeeck founded Fort Duijnhoop, the first Dutch settlement at the Cape. Van Riebeeck and his 90 settlers(including eight women ) put gardens to grow fruits and vegetables for the crew of the VOC ships.


Van Riebeeck imported livestock and farmers. In 1657 became the first country to a free citizen (African farmer of Dutch or Germandescent) issued.
From a small port city Cape Town grew into the largest city in South Africa. In 1887 Johannesburg became the largest city, caused by de goldrush.The census of 2001 showed that Cape Town's was still the largest Afrikaans-speaking community of South Africa, with1.2 million people.
Due to the nature and location at the foot of the famousTable Mountain, Cape Town is a popular international tourist destination.