Erwin and Alta Coetzee beautifully restored Die Dorphuis, circa 1860, to reflect its Victorian heritage. The Dorphuis literally transports you hundred years into the past. Besides the fantastically restored treasures found here, you can feel the past – a past that lives and breathes, because of the authentic antique treasures that are still in daily use. This treasure chest has among others three luxury rooms, six outside rooms (four of these are original “nagmaal” rooms), as well as two modern suites.

Stepping inside this National Monument, you’ll find every wall in every room a piece of art. Period pieces were carefully selected and placed to create a feeling of nostalgia. Even though all the walls are decorated with old family portraits of serious-looking Calvinianers, each room still has its own unique features to reminisce over.

“No lions, but everything else,” an American remarked. An Italian couple saw it as a landmark of their travel, while a South African longed for his youth and visiting his grandparents. A Swiss was content but felt sorry for “all those poor Springboks”.

Dedicated staff diligently looks after every small detail in all the rooms, unforgettable Hantam breakfasts and traditional dinners just around the corner at Hantam Huis.

A visitor from Cape Town felt the Dorphuis was haunted. At first you laugh it off as fickleness, but then you think of the voices, smells and sounds you’re confronted with here where the past is tangible. You walk here, you break the silence. You breathe here; you get delirious with too much fresh air. Everything is quiet. Everything is calm. You’re overcome by it. You feel obliged to become like it. And it has purpose.

The colourful kitchen, with milk and coffee provided, make you feel domesticated. Firewood is available on request for BBQ. Dinners and BBQ packs can be arranged, and we cater for special dietary arrangements. The Dorphuis’ Old World charm called for the absence of technology, but it seems that it was comfortably forgotten by New World visitors, since every room now has its own satellite TV, except for the Knegtekamer where it wouldn’t just seem out of place, it would also amount to sacrilege.