What did the dutch take from South Africa?

Answer 1

Well at first the Dutch East (shipping) Company had began sailing on a route which passed South Africa on its way to india. Cape Town made a perfect stop for the crew to refresh and trade some goods for food from the local people. Eventually a few Dutch settled in the Cape to begin farms and simple businesses to provide goods for the Dutch sailers. Later, many Dutch moved to Cape Town and began developing the city. As the city grew so did its demands. More people from the Dutch Republic moved to South Africa to support the growing demands. These people later moved more inland and developed towns. Later the Cape Dutch colony was formed.

Answer 2

The Dutch explorers happened to come to Australia because they were seeking new trade routes to the Dutch East Indies. Often, they arrived on Australia's shores quite by accident.

Dutch sea-captain Dirk Hartog, for example, sailed too far while he was following Henderik Brouwer's recently discovered route from the Cape of Good Hope to Batavia, via the Roaring Forties. Willem Jansz, on the other hand, was seeking other trade possibilities when he crossed the Arafura Sea into the Gulf of Carpentaria and landed on the western shores of Cape York.

Answer 3

Afrikaners never settled in South Africa, but were born there. They originated from the Dutch and French colonies that settled in South Africa in the 1600's. More than a century or so later Afrikaans, the world's youngest language, was born. People that spoke Afrikaans were referred to as "Boers" (Farmers) and later "Afrikaners". Today though, Afrikaners, English, Zulus, Xhosas, Sothos, Tswanas and the people from all the other races within South Africa are South Africans, the Rainbow Nation.

Answer 4

The Dutch settled in Cape Town because of the ship trade routes around the Cape. This was the main route during the 1600's for the Dutch East Indian Company towards India and the rest of Asia. It was long before the Suez Canal existed of course. Therefore there was a need for a halfway station in order to supply ships passing the Cape with fresh supplies. Scurvy was a massive problem and the Cape could supply the sailors with fresh food such as vegetables and meat. The Company chose Jan van Riebeeck for this task of starting a settlement for this purpose. He arrived in what is today Cape Town in 1652.

Answer 5

Mostly foodstuffs like vegetables, fruit and fresh water. The Dutch colony (Capetown and immediate surroundings) was basically merely a victualing centre where Dutch sailing ships were provided with supplies for the rest of their trip.

The valuable stuff like gold and diamonds was only discovered much later - late 19th century - when the Cape Colony had already been taken over by the British.

Answer 6

To work as slaves on the plantations.