Anyone passing through the tranquil Steenkampsberg, might think that the dull in Dullstroom derives from the name of the town. Not so. This charming village was named after its Dutch founder Wolterus Dull and has become a refuge for the nature lover, flyfisher and family man. At 2075 m above sea level, the summit of the nearby De Berg being 2331m, the town claims to be the highest in the Northern parts of South Africa - hence the chill air which often devastates visitors making a halfway stop on their way to the Lowveld.

The town dates back to the 1880's, when a committee under the chairmanship of Wolterus Dull collected money in Holland to assist Boers who had suffered losses during the first Anglo-Boer War. These funds were eventually used to bring Dutch immigrants to the Transvaal.

Two farms, Groot Suikerboschkop and Elandslaagte, were bought from a local farmer, Hendrik Theodorus Buhrmann. The first settlers, led by JH Janson Jnr, arrived in May 1884 with more Dutch families following in the years 1884-1887. Some of the family names are Ottens and Antonie De Vletter (the first teacher), GH Ahlers, Koeleman and Brinkman.

Journals recorded that they were soon discouraged by the "eternal mist, everlasting cold" and total lack of civilised amenities: no houses, the nearest shop and Post Office at Bergendal, 25 km away. The available agricultural land was not as fertile as they had hoped and there was no market for their produce.

The historical 'Nationale Boeren Handelvereeniging' ca 1887

In 1887 the settlement consisted of 48 white inhabitants, 8 houses, 3 stables and 10 cattle kraals. WC Janson's Boeren Handelsvereeniging shop, was the community's general dealer.

With the help of local farmers like the Kraayenburg, Mar, Laubscher, Taute and Steenkamp families, and some of Irish origin like the O'Grady's and the O'Neills, the community grew into a village, given official town status by President Paul Kruger in the Government Gazette, of Oct 1893:
Zoo is het, dat ik, Stephanus, Johannes Paulus Kruger, Staatspresident der Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek, met advies en consent van den UItvoerenden Raad, blijkens art 567 zijner notulen, gedateerd 9 October 1893, bij deze proclameer... dat op een zeker gedeelte van de plaats Grootsuikerboschkop, gelegen in die wijk Steenkampsberg, district Lijdenburg ... een dorp is gevestigd onder den naam van Dullstroom... GOD BEHOEDEN LAND EN VOLK.

In 1894 the village had a population of 100 settlers. During the guerilla phase of the Second Anglo-Boer War the British twice razed the village to the ground. The Dutch allied with the Boers and took part in important battles like the siege of Ladysmith in 1899. Where possible, many settlers went back to Holland.

After the war, TNH Janson (Oom Teun) was one of the first to return to Dullstroom and help it rise from the ashes.

Dullstroom's European heritage is evident in its wonderful array of decidious trees - beeches, lindens, oaks, cherry and many other varieties planted by the Dutch over a century ago.

Many corner stones on surviving buildings date back to 1890 or earlier and in the historical cemetery Irish, Dutch and English surnames testify to a varied community tradition of shared happiness and sorrow.

New Chapter

....heeft me gemaild dat jij je interesseert voor de geschiedenis van Dullstroom. Heb je misschien meer informatie voor mij?

Ik ben èèn van hun 30 kleinkinderen, waarvan velen nog leven en elkaar regelmatig zien. Ik heb zelf veel gesproken met mijn oudste tante Corrie, die nog herinneringen uit haar jeugd in Zuid-Afrika had.

Als jij nadere informatie hebt over de geschiedenis van Dullstroom zou ik die graag ontvangen."

The modern day Dull's Stroom in the Netherlands

In short, Mr Kroon would like more information about Dullstroom's early Dutch history. From family letters, he gathered that his ancestors suffered severe losses after the Anglo-Boer War and his grandparents were forced to return to Holland because they simply couldn't make it out here. Those who stayed behind, were somewhat jealous of their cousins' relative wealth in Holland. But those who returned to their country of origin, missed Africa to such an extent, that they named their house in Holland Dulls' Stroom.

Note: This information may only be reproduced or copied with the express permission of Gerda Whitehorn. Contact her by email.