Vermaaklikheid

Place in Western Cape, South Africa

34°18′S 21°2′E / 34.300°S 21.033°E / -34.300; 21.033CountrySouth AfricaProvinceWestern CapeDistrictGarden RouteMunicipalityHessequaPopulation

(2011)

• Total356Racial Makeup (2011)

• Coloured63.76% • White20.51% • Black African12.92% • Other2.81%First Languages (2011)

• Afrikaans92.42% • English7.02% • Other0.56%Time zoneUTC+2 (SAST)PO box

6671

Vermaaklikheid is a settlement on South Africa's Garden Route in the Western Cape. It is situated near Witsand and close to Duiwenhoks River. The area is a fynbos shrubland that has a temperate climate. More than 100 species of birds live here.^[1]

As of 2011 the population is 356.^[2] In the census, 329 people(92.4%) spoke Afrikaans, 25 (7%) spoke English, and 2 (0.56%) spoke Setswana.

History

The village was established in 1855 when the Dutch Reformed Church purchased a piece of land that was originally farmed on by Andries Gous since 1725.^[3]

The origin of the name of the village is disputed. A certain resident of the village, Inis Bower, claims that the village was named after a certain "Meneer Vermaak" who was a prominent farmer in the area during the 19th century. Others, however, believe that the name 'Vermaaklikheid', meaning 'entertainment' in Afrikaans and Dutch, was derived from the occasional gathering of farmers on the bank of the river to "vermaak" or to relax and enjoy themselves.

References

^ "Vermaaklikheid Accommodation, Garden Route". www.wheretostay.co.za. Retrieved 2023-04-30.
^ Firth, Adrian. "Census 2011: Small Area 0031". census2011.adrianfrith.com. Retrieved 2024-03-29.
^ Haw, Penny (19 January 2011). "Taking it easy in Vermaaklikheid". Penny Haw. Retrieved 2024-03-29.