Stigting VOC | VOC Foundation

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Komitee | Committee

Grondwet | Constitution

Ons grondwet kan hier afgelaai word.

Our constitution is available here.

Lidmaatskap | Membership

Ons verwelkom enigiemand wat belangstel om 'n lid te word. Sluit aan.

We welcome all interested in becoming a member. Apply now.

Logo

Meer inligting oor die VOC logo is hier beskikbaar.

More information about the VOC logo is available here.

Han Mets Restourasiefonds | Han Mets Restoration Fund

Vorige restourasieprojekte is grootliks befonds met behulp van die Van Ewijk-stigting.
In 2018 het ons lid Dr Han Mets, op eie inisiatief, 'n bedrag geskenk wat as basis van die Stigting VOC se eie restourasiefonds kan dien. Alle bydraes van die publiek is welkom — kontak asseblief die sekretaris vir meer inligting.

Past restoration projects were largely funded with the help of the Van Ewijk foundation.
In 2018 Dr Han Mets, on own initiative, donated an amount to serve as the basis of the VOC Foundations' own restoration fund. All contributions from the public are welcome — please contact the secretary for more information.

Geskiedenis van die Stigting VOC

Met die verandering van regering in Suid-Afrika in 1994 het Paul Grobbelaar, die hoof uitvoerende beampte in die Kasteel de Goede Hoop en ook direkteur van die William Fehr-versameling wat in die Kasteel bewaar word, saam met Dirk Bins, die Nederlandse konsul-generaal in Kaapstad, oorweeg om 'n vrywillige, nie-winsgewende bewaringsgroep te stig, soortgelyk aan bestaande groepe in Nederland, wat as die 'Geheue van die VOC in Suid-Afrika' kan dien. Bewaring, Opvoeding en Kultuurtoerisme sou die enigste oogmerke wees. Hulle het lede gewerf onder akademici wat aspekte van die VOC-tyd bestudeer, VOC-belangstellendes en bewaringsgesindes, professioneel sowel as amateur. Die eerste byeenkoms om die projek bekend te stel is in 1995 in die restaurant De Vijf Vliegen in Keeromstraat gehou. Daar was aanvanklik sowat twintig stigterslede, onder wie Dr Karl Koperski en Lungile Gadezweni, opvoedkundiges by die Kasteel, die argitekte Gawie en Gwen Fagan, George Hofmeyr, direkteur van die Raad vir Nasionale Gedenkwaardighede en Hannatjie du Preez en Joanna Marx van dieselfde Raad, Anton Roux, Direkteur van die SA Kultuurhistoriese Museum en sy vrou Alta, Dr Con de Wet, Hoof van die SA Argiefbewaarplek, Dr Helena Scheffler, kultuurhistorikus, Dr Dan Sleigh, historikus, Dr Hans Fransen kunshistorikus, Natie Greeff, hoof van die Militêre Museum, en VOC-entoesiaste met 'n Indonesiese agtergrond soos Dr Han Mets. Dr Kay de Villiers van die Mediese Museum Beheerraad, en Mev. Wilma Malherbe, voorsitter van die RNG se Wes-Kaapse komitee en haar man Dr Fana Malherbe die numismatis, Majoor Tony Gordon van die Militêre Geskiedenis Vereniging en die genealoog Mansell Upham het later aangesluit.

Die Stigtingsvergadering was op 16 September 1995 in die Kasteel, presies twee eeue nadat die VOC-vlag oor die Kasteel deur 'n Britse vlag vervang is. Die Stigting is dadelik as bewaringsliggaam geregistreer by die Stad Kaapstad, Erfenis Wes-Kaap en SAEHA. Die VOC-logo is by die Buro vir Handelsmerke in ons naam geregistreer. Die ontwerp van 'n VOC-logo omring deur 'n proteakrans, is deur die kunstenaar Hannes Beukes van die Militêre Museum geskep.

Die Stigting het daarna gereeld in die Kasteel vergader en die ledetal het mettertyd gegroei. Paul Grobbelaar was die eerste voorsitter en die historikus dr Jan Visagie van US ondervoorsitter. Na Paul Grobbelaar het Jan Visagie voorsitter geword en die kultuurhistorikus dr Helena Scheffler ondervoorsitter. Prof. Wium van Zyl was van die begin af verantwoordelik vir toere. Jan Visagie is deur Piet Westra, direkteur van die Suid-Afrikaanse Biblioteek, opgevolg. Dr Scheffler het ondervoorsitter gebly. Na Piet Westra was die historikus prof. Leon Hattingh van 2016 af in die stoel. Dr Scheffler het in 2020 as ondervoorsitter bedank, en van toe af was die portefeulje vakant. Toe ons Nederlandse sustervereniging Caemer die Haghe in 2008 in Suid-Afrika kom toer, het hulle 'n lint en penning waarop Johan van Oldenbarneveld, 'vader van die VOC' afgebeeld is, vir ons voorsitters se gebruik geskenk.

Die Stigting se eerste groot projek was die uitstalling VOC en route, wat gereël is om saam te val met die besoek aan Suid-Afrika van HM Koningin Beatrix van Nederland. Dit is op 9 Oktober 1996 deur Sy Eksellensie mnr Herman Froger, die Nederlandse Ambassadeur in die Graanskuur-anneks van die Kasteel geopen. Rare VOC-artefakte, verskeie waarvan die eerste keer in die openbaar te sien was, is uitgestal, soos skeepshout van die sogenaamde Burgersentrumwrak, wat in die 1970's gevind is by die bou van die Burgersentrum op die drooggelegde gebied. Die sameroeper van die reëlingskomitee vir die projek was dr Helena Scheffler. (Vir dié en ander projekte, sien ons webwerf)

Die Stigting het jare lank in die lesingkamer in die kelder van die Sekundeshuis in die Kasteel vergader, maar het mettertyd na die Huis der Nederlanden (nou SASNEV) in Pinelands oorgeskuif. SASNEV het ook die Stigting se amptelike domicilium geword. Daar is elke kwartaal 'n lesing oor 'n VOC-onderwerp aangebied, wat entoesiasties bygewoon is. In 2007 is byvoorbeeeld een onderwerp met verskillende sprekers, gewy aan die val van Goewerneur WA van der Stel se regering in 1707, gevolg deur 'n besoek aan sy plaas Vergelegen. Die COVID-epidemie het in 2020 'n einde aan die openbare lesings gemaak, maar hulle sal hopelik elektronies hervat word.

Die Stigting se silwermedalje vir voortreflike diens aan die geheue van die VOC, met 'n afbeelding van die retoerskip Prins Willem, is die eerste keer aan die meesterskeepsmodelbouer Robert Lightley toegeken, vir sy modelle van VOC-skepe wat wêreldwyd in maritieme museums te sien is. Die funksie is in die Suid-Afrikaanse Maritieme Museum in die Waterfront aangebied en die burgemeester van Kaapstad Raadslid Gerald Morkel het die oorhandiging gedoen. Die medalje se stempel word deur die Pagliari Maatskappy bewaar. (Sien ons webwerf vir ander toekennings.)

As deel van die opvoedkundige program is uitstappies na plekke van VOC-belang in en om die Kaapse Skiereiland onderneem, soos byvoorbeeld na die gewese buiteposte Robbeneiland, 't Nieuwland en Simons Baaij, of toere van drie dae na die gewese buiteposte van die Weskus, Overberg of Suid-Kaap, so ver as Mosselbaai, 't Houteniquasland en Plettenbergs Baaij. Die organisering van die toere is op bekwame wyse gedoen deur Professor Wium van Zyl en Dr Helena Scheffler.

Kwartaalliks word 'n nuusbrief genaamd Generale Missive, met inligting en nuus oor VOC-sake aan lede gestuur. Dr D. Sleigh was van die begin af die redakteur. Oorspronklik is dit getik, gefotokopieër en in gestempelde koeverte aan die lede gepos. Nou word dit elektronies gestuur. Vorige uitgawes van die Generale Missive is op ons webwerf te lees.

Omdat die Slawelosie Museum in Kaapstad na die Stigting se mening 'n kosbare Robert Lightley-model van die VOC-jag Goede Hoop ('n ware kunswerk, van peerhout gemaak) in 'n uitstalling oor slawerny misbruik het, het die Stigting in 2013 besluit om 'n model van die slaweskip Meermin te laat bou en in bruikleen aan die Slawelosie Museum te skenk. Die model is deur Brian Donelly van Plumstead gebou, van 'n bouplan wat voorsitter Piet Westra uit die Nationaal Archief in Den Haag bekom het. Die projek is befonds deur die Van Ewijck Stigting en skenkings deur ons lede. Die glaskas is deur die Stigting Simon van der Stel geskenk. 'n Geldelike skenking in 2019 het ons in staat gestel om 'n spesiale fonds te skep, waaruit projekte in die toekoms befonds kan word. Dit heet die Han Mets-bewaringsfonds, na die skenker.
Dr Nico Walters het die Stigting se eerste elektroniese webwerf ontwerp en bedryf; dit is in 2020 aansienlik uitgebrei deur komiteelid Jaco du Plessis. Navrae oor 'n verskeidenheid van VOC-onderwerpe is oor die jare van dwars oor die wêreld ontvang en so goed as moontlik beantwoord.

Rudolf Rode is reeds van 2013 ons Sekretaris en Calla Wessel van 2011 af die Tesourier. Prof. Hattingh het in 2021 as Voorsitter uitgetree, maar daar teenoor het die Stigting in 2020 en 2021 drie talentvolle jong komiteelede gewen, naamlik Jaco du Plessis, dr Karen Jennings en Alex Giardini, wat hulle met entoesiasme en energie aan die taak wy.

History of the VOC Foundation

With the change of government in South Africa in 1994, Paul Grobbelaar, the CEO of the Castle of Good Hope and also director of the William Fehr collection preserved in the Castle, together with Dirk Bins, the Dutch consul-general in Cape Town, considered establishing a voluntary, non-profit conservation group, similar to existing groups in the Netherlands, which could serve as the 'Memory of the VOC' in South Africa. Conservation, Education and Cultural Tourism would be the only objectives. They recruited members among academics studying aspects of the VOC era, VOC enthusiasts and conservationists, professional as well as amateur. The first meeting to launch the project was held in 1995 in the restaurant De Vijf Vliegen in Keerom Street. Initially there were about twenty founding members, including Dr Karl Koperski and Lungile Gadezweni, educators at the Castle, the architects Gawie and Gwen Fagan, George Hofmeyr, director of the Council for National Monuments, as well as Hannatjie du Preez and Joanna Marx of the same Council, Anton Roux, Director of the SA Cultural History Museum and his wife Alta, Dr Con de Wet, Head of the Cape Archives Repository, Dr Helena Scheffler, cultural historian, Dr Dan Sleigh, historian, Dr Hans Fransen, art historian, Natie Greeff, head of the Military Museum. VOC enthusiasts with an Indonesian background, such as Dr Han Mets. Dr. Kay de Villiers of the Medical Museum Governing Body, Mrs. Wilma Malherbe, chairperson of the National Monuments Council's Western Cape committee and her husband, Dr Fana Malherbe, the numismatist, Major Tony Gordon of the Military History Society and the genealogist Mansell Upham joined later.

The founding meeting was in the Castle on 16 September 1995, exactly two centuries after the VOC flag over the Castle was replaced by a British flag. The Foundation was immediately registered as a conservation body with the City of Cape Town, Heritage Western Cape and SAHRA. The VOC logo is registered in our name with the Bureau of Trademarks. The design of a VOC logo surrounded by a protea wreath was created by the artist Hannes Beukes of the Military Museum.

The Foundation then met regularly in the Castle and the number of members grew over time. Paul Grobbelaar was the first chairman and the historian Dr Jan Visagie of SU the vice-chairman. Dr. Dan Sleigh was the first secretary. Prof. Wium van Zyl was in charge of tours from the start. Jan Visagie followed Paul Grobbelaar as chairman, and the cultural historian Dr Helena Scheffler was vice-chairman. Jan Visagie was succeeded by Piet Westra, director of the South African Library. Dr. Scheffler remained vice-chairman. After Piet Westra, the historian prof. Leon Hattingh became chairman in 2016. Dr. Scheffler resigned as vice-chairman in 2020, and from then on the portfolio was vacant. When our Dutch sister association Caemer die Haghe toured South Africa in 2008 they donated a ribbon and medallion depicting Johan van Oldenbarneveld, 'father of the VOC', for use by our chairpersons.

The Foundation's first major project was the exhibition, VOC en route, which was arranged to coincide with the visit to South Africa by HM Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands. It was opened on 9 October 1996 by His Excellency Mr Herman Froger, the Dutch Ambassador in the Grain Shed Annex of the Castle. Rare VOC artefacts, several of which were seen in public for the first time, were on display, such as ships timbers from the so-called Civic Center Wreck, which was found in the 1970s during the construction of the Civic Center in the reclaimed Foreshore. The convener of the organising committee for the project was Dr Helena Scheffler. (For these and other projects, see our website)

The Foundation met for many years in the lecture room in the basement of the Sekundeshuis in the Castle, but eventually moved to the Huis der Nederlanden (now SASNEV) in Pinelands. SASNEV also became the Foundation's official domicile. A lecture on a VOC topic was presented every quarter, which was enthusiastically attended. In 2007, for example, one topic was discussed with different speakers, dedicated to the fall of Governor WA van der Stel's government in 1707, followed by a visit to his farm, Vergelegen. The COVID epidemic put an end to public lectures in 2020, but they will hopefully be resumed electronically.

The Foundation's silver medal for outstanding service to the memory of the VOC, with an image of the return ship Prince Willem, was awarded for the first time to master ship model builder, Robert Lightley, for his models of VOC ships that can be seen in maritime museums worldwide. The function was presented at the South African Maritime Museum in the Waterfront and the Mayor of Cape Town, Councilor Gerald Morkel, presented the award. The stamp of the medal is preserved by the Pagliari Company. (See our website for other awards of the medal.)

As part of the educational program, excursions were undertaken to places of VOC interest in and around the Cape Peninsula, such as to the former outstations Robben Island, 't Nieuwland and Simons Baaij, or three-day tours to the former outstations of the West Coast, Overberg or Southern Cape, as far as Mossel Bay, 't Houteniquasland and Plettenbergs Bay. The organisation of the tours was done competently by Professor Wium van Zyl, Dr Helena Scheffler and Dr Dan Sleigh.

A quarterly newsletter called Generale Missive is sent to members with information and news on VOC matters. Dr. Dan Sleigh was the editor from the beginning. Originally it was typed, photocopied and mailed to the members in stamped envelopes. Now it is sent electronically. Previous issues of the Generale Missive can be read on our website.

Because the Slavery Museum in Cape Town abused, in the Foundation's opinion, a precious Robert Lightley model of the VOC yacht, Goede Hoop (a true work of art, made of pear wood) in an exhibition on slavery, the Foundation decided in 2013 to have a model of the slave ship, Meermin, built and donated it on loan to the Slave Lodge Museum. The model was built by Brian Donelly of Plumstead, from a building plan obtained from the National Archives in The Hague by chairman Piet Westra. The project was funded by the Van Ewijck Foundation and donations by our members. The glass case was donated by the Simon van der Stel Foundation. A monetary donation in 2019 enabled us to create a special fund for future projects. It's called the Han Mets Preservation Fund, after the donor. Dr. Nico Walters designed and operated the Foundation's first electronic website; it was significantly expanded in 2020 by committee member Jaco du Plessis. Enquiries on a variety of VOC topics have been received over the years from around the world and answered as well as possible.

Rudolf Rode has been our Secretary since 2013 and Calla Wessel has been the Treasurer since 2011. Prof. Hattingh stepped down as Chairman in 2021, but in 2020 and 2021 the Foundation gained three talented young committee members, namely Jaco du Plessis, Dr Karen Jennings and Alex Giardini, who devote themselves to the task with enthusiasm and energy.