A Special Talk in Swellendam

On 28 November, Swellendam will host a unique heritage event: a public talk by Femke Coevert, conservator at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, titled Delving into Swellengrebel History.

The Swellengrebel name is woven into the very fabric of Swellendam. Founded in 1743, the town was named after Governor Hendrik Swellengrebel, the first Cape-born governor of the Dutch Cape Colony, and his wife Helena ten Damme. Their legacy lives on not only in the town’s name but also in the archival treasures that reveal how life unfolded here during the 18th century.

Femke Coevert has worked extensively with the Swellengrebel family archive, a remarkable collection of journals, letters, and portraits preserved in the Nationaal Archief and Rijksmuseum. These documents include the writings of Hendrik Swellengrebel Jr., who journeyed into the Cape interior in 1775, recording crops, tools, and daily life. They also shed light on the overlooked stories of enslaved individuals, such as Augustus van Bengale, whose lives were deeply entwined with the colonial frontier.

This talk offers Swellendam residents and visitors a chance to reconnect with the town’s founding story, explore newly uncovered archival insights, and reflect on how history continues to shape local identity today.

📍 Venue Desmond Tutu Hall, Drostdy Museum
🕰️ Date & Time: 28 November, 15:30

Join us for an afternoon of discovery as we journey into the past and uncover the Swellengrebel legacy that still resonates in Swellendam’s streets, landmarks, and community spirit.