Drostdy Museum — Local services in Swellendam Local Municipality

Heritage Month, September 2024: Having visited several museums and historical sites around the world, I have now come across one right here in South Africa that is the epitome of how a Historical and Cultural Heritage Site should be preserved, publicised, maintained, and presented. I was highly impressed by the Drostdy Museum reviews and photos posted on Google Maps and became so impatient to see it, that I took the virtual tour of the Museum on the Museum's website, that links to a UTube clip. Of course, that, in turn, made me even more impatient to do the real tour! Located in Swellendam, Western Cape, the Drostdy Museum complex comprises a well-preserved house and parapanalia. The exhibits appear to be stunning. Although not dedicated to him, Jan van Riebeeck's arrival at the then Cape of Good Hope is also covered in at least one of the exhibits. The Museum's website provides the following insight: "The Drostdy Museum was built by the Dutch East India Company in 1747 to serve as residence and official headquarters for the Landdrost. Soon after a gaol, a house for the secretary, a mill, and various outbuildings were erected." The Drostdy Museum should be placed high up on the bucket list of anyone interested in South African History...

What a pleasant experience to visit the different exhibitions of the Drostdy Museum in Swellendam! When we arrived, we were welcomed by a very friendly lady who sold us entrance tickets and who gave us some background on the different exhibitions. We visited the old jail, the Drostdy House and the exhibition of wagons and carriages. It was clear that a lot of effort had been made to get the exhibits as complete as possible and to give a true-to-life version of Swellendam's history. Here an there it is clear that maintenance was outstanding, but overall the facilities and exhibitions left a good impression. Visitingthe museum when you visit...

The museum consists of three sites, all within walking distance from each other. One is supposed to start and pay (R30.00 pp) at the Drostdy, but we began at the Mayville House. The kitchen was fascinating, but I liked the small exhibition on Maria Elizabeth Rothmann and the exquisite garden the most. The paintings and furniture in the Drostdy are lovely. The prison was a treat (although the Khoisan exhibition is quite dated and looks tired) - I loved the yard at the back containing the different workshops. There are some really interesting tidbits about Swellendam's history - this museum definitely surpasses most town museums. An...