Koopmans De wet House
The Koopmans De Wet House, S A’s Oldest House Museum
The Koopmans-de Wet House, built in 1701, is South Africa’s oldest house museum. It’s a rare example of 18th-century Cape Dutch architecture, with many original features and furnishings.
Located in Strand Street, Cape Town, the Koopmans de Wet House became a museum in 1914. It was purchased by public subscription in memory of Marie Koopmans-de Wet, a well-known cultural figure who supported Boer women and children during the South African War (1899–1902).
The museum’s collection includes Cape furniture, silverware, Delftware, and Chinese and Japanese export porcelain—mostly from the De Wet family, who owned the home for over 100 years.
The property was originally granted to Reynier Smedinga in 1699. Over time, several owners expanded the house and added slave quarters, stables, and living areas. In 1806, Margaretha Jacoba Smuts, widow of Hendrik Justinus de Wet, bought the home. Her son Johannes de Wet, a lawyer and cultural leader, inherited it, followed by his daughters Marie and Margaretha.
Marie Koopmans-de Wet hosted a prominent salon, welcomed global guests, and campaigned to preserve Cape heritage sites like the Castle of Good Hope. Her home also served as a depot for humanitarian aid during the war.
The Koopmans De Wet House’s history also reflects Cape Town’s use of enslaved labour. Skilled slaves lived and worked on the property until slavery was abolished in 1834.
