History of Vredenburg

• Province: Western Cape
• West Coast
• Coordinates: 32°54′23″S 17°59′45″E
• Area: 13.75 km2
• Municipality: Saldanha Bay

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 town is built on a hill, which boasts some large granite rocks.

The Agterbaai, as Vredenburg was known, did not originally have a church, and the closest one was at Hopefield, which was about a six-hour 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 cornerstone was laid on 22 January 1872 by dominee Neethling. On 15 September 1875, the church was inaugurated and the town’s name changed to Vredenburg. The church is the oldest building in Vredenburg.

The original name of the area was Twisfontein, which translates means “Dispute fountain” This is from an incident where two farmers fought over the only available freshwater spring in the area. The town was then 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. (‘Peaceful Town’). The peace monument is in Church Street.

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.

Close by is a large township which has sprung up since the iron and steel factory was built. 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 Vredenburg

Things to do and see in Vredenburg

• There are some great birdwatching opportunities 
• Monument in Church Street
• West Coast Biosphere Reserve 076 696 5354  info@cwcbr.co.za  
• 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