Towns and suburbs

Vredenburg

Transport centre of the West Coast

History of Vredenburg

This town was established in 1875 and is the transportation and commercial centre of the West Coast. Vrede is Afrikaans for peace. The town was originally established by the Dutch reformed church to serve the surrounding community.

The Agterbaai, as Vredenburg was known, did not have a church the closest one was at Hopefield which was about six hours drive by horse and cart. The Dutch Reformed Church established a congregation here in 1875. The church building was inaugurated that year. A piece of land on the farm Twisfontein was acquired for this purpose.

The original name of the area was Twisfontein, which translated means “Dispute fountain” This is from an incident where two farmers fought over the only available freshwater spring in the area. When there was eventually a settlement, the town was named Prosesfontein. (‘Lawsuit Spring’) because the rights to the spring caused so many arguments as water is a scarce commodity here. After the inauguration of the church, peace (vrede) reigned and the new town was called Vredenburg.

In 1880 the first school was built in the town and after the water pipeline was built after World War II, not only the town but the entire region experienced a boom.

The original name of the area was Twisfontein, which translated means “Dispute fountain” This is from an incident where two farmers fought over the only available freshwater spring in the area. When there was eventually a settlement, the town was named Prosesfontein. (‘Lawsuit Spring’) because the rights to the spring caused so many arguments as water is a scarce commodity here.

Peace was finally won and the town was renamed Vredenburg, (‘Peaceful Town’). The peace monument is in Church Street.
The town is surrounded by Fynbos, wheat fields, dairy and sheep farms.

The license plate prefix for Vredenberg is CFG and the postal code for Vredenberg is 7380

WEATHER IN VREDENBuRG TODAY

see all listings in Freudenburg

 

Things to do and see Vredenburg

  • There are some great birdwatching opportunities 
  • Monument in Church Street
  • Witteklip, just outside the town a rock with a massive opening through the middle of it.

Useful Numbers

  • Police: 022 713 1310 022723 8000
  • Municipality; 022 701 7000
  • Traffic department: 022 713 1286
  • Home Affairs: 022 719 1297
  • Fire: Saldanha bay022 7131815 0860073473
  • Water:
  • Electricity:
  • Ambulance: 10177 0227144590
  • Post office; 0227151550
  • Library: 022 7017024
  • Closest hospital; provincial hospital022 709 7200
  • Pharmacy; 022 713 1184
  • SPCA: west coast 022 289 0998
  • Tourism ; 022 715 1142
  • Schools:
    • Vredenburg high-022713 1151
    • Vredenberg primary- 022 713 1161
    • Laerskool Vredenburg – 022 713 1161
    • Edenprimary – 022 713 1409
    • Weston secondary- 022713 2083
    • Louwville high- 022 713 3439

 

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