REALS Research Institute

Vergelegen (2) – Greed and DownfallWillem Adriaan van der Stel developed Vergelegen into more than just a farm—it became a space where power and slave labor were deeply intertwined. He was criticized for expanding the estate by using resources and labor controlled by the Dutch East India Company, which led to growing conflict with free burghers. Ultimately, these accusations of abuse of power re..

Vergelegen (1)Vergelegen, a Dutch word meaning “situated far away.”Vergelegen has, over time, been closely associated with South Africa’s political and economic elites. In its early history, it was established by Governor Willem Adriaan van der Stel, who laid its foundation during the Dutch colonial period.The Thunissen family later accumulated agricultural wealth over roughly a century, contrib..