Groote Kerk

The first Groote Kerk was originally built in 1678. It was the first Christian church constructed soon after Jan van Riebeeck arrived. The site is a heritage site containing over 300 years of burial history.  

Willem Adriaan van der Stel laid the cornerstone for the church. It was replaced by the present building in 1841, but the original tower was retained. The pulpit was carved by the sculptor. Anton Anreith

It was designated a burial ground in 1677. Previously, the graveyard inside the Castle of Good Hope was used. The first recorded burial at the  Groote Kerk was that of Reverend Petrus Hulsenaar in December 1677. The grave is one of the oldest identifiable tombs at the Groote Kerk. Engraved tombstones can still be seen inside the church; the inscriptions are in Dutch, but many of the tombstones show signs of wear from years of foot traffic. Some graves and memorials were moved or covered during renovations. In 1979, restoration was done to restore and preserve the surviving tombstones and crypts. 

During the early years of the colony, it was customary to bury important individuals inside the church building. Hundreds of graves are located beneath the floor, mostly those of clergy, officials, and wealthy colonists.

The church is predominantly made of timber. It has wooden pews and wooden galleries. Admission is free, and donations are gladly accepted.

The Historic Graves of Groote Kerk, 

The Groote Kerk, built in 1841, stands on a site used for worship and burials since 1677. The first recorded grave is that of Reverend Petrus Hulsenaar, buried in December 1677 after the grounds replaced the Castle of Good Hope cemetery.

In the Dutch colonial period, clergy, officials, and wealthy colonists were buried beneath the church floor. Among them were Governors Simon van der Stel (1712), Ryk Tulbagh (1771), and Baron Pieter van Reede van Oudtshoorn (1773). Their engraved tombstones remain inside the church, worn from centuries of use.

It was customary to bury high-ranking individuals inside the church building itself. At Groote Kerk, hundreds of burials took place beneath the floor, mostly of clergy, officials, and wealthy colonists

The grave of Reverend Petrus Hulsenaar is considered one of the oldest identifiable tombs at the site

The churchyard outside once served as a broader burial ground but was phased out in the 19th century. Some graves were later moved or covered during renovations.

A restoration project in 1979 preserved many tombstones and crypts. Today, Groote Kerk is both a functioning church and a heritage site, holding more than 200 years of Cape history beneath its floor.

Just down Parliament Street, 43 Upper Adderley Street, Cape Town Central,