H I S T O R Y
NOORDHOEK
Noordhoek has a rich history that dates back to the 17th century. It was first inhabited by the Khoikhoi people who used the area as grazing land for their cattle. In 1658, the Dutch East India Company established a farm in the area, which was later purchased by a settler named Pieter van der Westhuizen. The name “Noordhoek” is derived from the Dutch language and literally means “north corner,” referring to its location as the northern corner of the Slangkop farm. The first permanent European resident in the area was Jaco Malan, who built a house there in the 17th century. In 1743, the area was officially named Noordhoek and divided into six portions, most of which were purchased by the De Villiers family. During this time, the farmers in Noordhoek mainly grew vegetables to supply ships calling at Simon’s Town, a nearby naval base. Noordhoek was a part of the Dutch Cape Colony, established in 1652 by the Dutch East India Company (VOC) as a refreshment station for ships traveling between Europe and Asia. The colony initially focused on providing fresh produce and meat to passing ships but gradually expanded into agriculture and settlements. Interestingly, to this day, organic vegetables feature strongly on the Noordhoek scene. For nearly 300 years, Noordhoek remained a relatively remote and inaccessible area due to its location on the Cape Peninsula. The only access was via the main road that followed the railway line along the False Bay shore from Muizenberg to Simon’s Town.
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