MDMD(5): The Fortification

[Michel Ryckx]

A bit more on the impressive Fort at the Cape:

This is from a touristic site and slightly altered.  The web site, at
www.vulatours.za has fine pictures. The foritification is now a museum
with the Fehr collcetion in it.  See also: www.museums.org.za .

"The Castle of Good Hope is the oldest surviving building in South
Africa. Built between 1666 and 1679, this pentagonal fortification
replaced a small clay and timber fort built by Commander Jan van
Riebeeck in 1652 upon establishing a maritime replanishment station art
the Cape of Good Hope for the Dutch East India Company, better known as
the VOC (Verenigde Oos-Indische Compagnie). On 26 April 1679 the five
bastions were named after the main titles of Willem, the Prince of
Orange. The Western bastions was named Leerdam ; followed in clockwise
order by Buuren, Catzenellenbogen, Nassau and Orange.

 [. . .]

Entrance and Bell Tower
The main entrance to the Castle bears many reminders of the nearly one
and a half centuries of VOC presence at the Cape. This entrance is a
unique example of 17th century Dutch classicism. The bell, cast in 1697
by Claude Fremy in Amsterdam, still hangs in the tower from its original
wooden beams.

Fortification
The Castle of Good Hope was built in accordance with 17th century
European principles of fortification comprising strong bastions from
which the outside walls could be protected by cross-fire.

HET Bakhuys & DOLPHIN Pool
During restoration of the inner courtyard, the foundations of the early
18th century                   bakery and pool were discovered. The
building, currently known as Het Bakhuys                   ('t
Bakhuijs), has been reconstructed on these foundations.

The Castle was begun in 1666 as the second major VOC fortification at
the Cape. It is a five pointed structure with six foot thick, stone-clad
walls and built according to early 17th century Dutch fortification
principles. It is a very well preserved building and bears similarities
to other VOC castles in the East such as in Sri Lanka. The Fehr
Collection is housed mainly in rooms used during the 17th and 18th
centuries by the VOC's Council of Policy and Council of Justice and in
the former residence of the Governor."

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