Call for information: Dutch building industry professionals in South Africa 1902 – 1961

Posted on October 15, 2019

Dutch building industry professionals in South Africa 1902–1961


A call for information:


Many buildings and infrastructural projects and also commonly used building materials and
components in South Africa have a Dutch origin. Cape Dutch architecture is a well-known and
studied shared heritage. The legacy of Dutch born and educated building industry
professionals in the twentieth century has hardly been studied.
We are undertaking a research project, termed ‘Tectonic ZA Wilhelmiens’, to address this
theme. Not only will it result in the publishing of a book in 2020, but will also contribute to
webpages and databases. The project will research the contribution of Dutch born and
educated building industry professionals and companies – think of architects,
draughtspersons, contractors, engineers, materials manufacturers etc. – active throughout
South Africa and Namibia (formerly South-West Africa) during 1902–1961.

The project will only research the contribution of Dutch born and educated émigrés and Dutch
companies active in South Africa between 1902 and 1961. South Africans who were active in
the Netherlands during the same period are also of interest.

We are especially interested to learn more about:


JW and FM Bongers (Cape Town, c.1920–)
J Kalis (Cape Town, c.1940–)
H Spoor (Cape Town, c.1940–, Spoor & Chapman Architects)
H De Rouw (Cape Town, c.1937–)
H Niegeman (Cape Town, c.1937–
C Wegerif (Cape Town, c.1940–)
H Sikkel (Cape Town, c.1930–)
JF Brinkman (Port Elizabeth, c.1935–)
JP Hulshof (Kroonstad, c.1925–)
JF van Gemert (Johannesburg, c. 1940–)
Dr BH Holsboer (Nedbank)
JJ de Jong (architect in service of the then City of Pretoria, c.1930s)
H Kaal (Pretoria, c.1930–)
J Woudstra (Pretoria, c.1930–)
JH de Bruyn (Johannesburg, c1930)
P Breedvelt (Johannesburg, c.1937–)
P Dirksen (Johannesburg, c.1937–)
HP Bakker (Johannesburg, c.1936)
JAM Moors (Johannesburg, c.1959–)
JH van Zanten (Johannesburg, c.1940–)
C Grootewal (Johannesburg, c.1930–)
J Eleanor Ferguson (Johannesburg, c.1937–)


‘Tectonic ZA Wilhelmiens’ is an official interdisciplinary academic research project undertaken
by the Department of Architecture, University of Pretoria with a grant from the Dutch Embassy
in South Africa as part of their Cultural Heritage programme.
The Tectonic ZA Wilhelmiens project is managed by Enterprises University of Pretoria.
We would greatly appreciate any contact with any people, their decedents, or other members
of the public who may have relevant information to share this with us.


For more information see: http://artefacts.co.za/main/Buildings/style_det.php?styleid=1668.
If you are the descendent of, or have any information on any person or company of interest
we would be grateful to make contact. You can contact the editorial team by email at
[email protected].

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