Stellenbosch Museum

The Stellenbosch Museum tells the story of the town over centuries. The Village Museum Complex shows the history of early settlement throughout the establishment of a colonial town in 1679 up to the year 2000.

The houses in the complex are: Schreuderhuis (c. 1709),  Blettermanhuis (c. 1789),  Grosvernor House (c. 1803), and O.M. Berghhuis (c. 1850). These historical houses are beautiful restored, furnished, decorated and the gardens designed and planted according to the style taste of the time.

The origin and history of the “Dorpies” of Stellenbosch can be seen at Voorgelegen in Dorp Street. The exhibition aims to acknowledge the role of each of the dorpies and its inhabitants in the development of the larger Stellenbosch district, including all its activities and accomplishments.  

An exhibition about the forced removals of the communities of Stellenbosch can also be seen in the building.  With this exhibition, the museum wants to acknowledge the injustice of the past and to provide a platform so that those affected by the removals can share their story.

The VOC Arsenal is a unique small historic building. It contains a wonderful collection of 17th century signalling cannons as well as many other items from the military history of the town.

The Toy Museum, located in the old Rhenish Missionary Parsonage offers a world of enchantment with its collection of antique dolls, doll’s house furniture and other toys. Amongst the most popular displays are the miniature rooms with finely detailed furniture and fittings all built in 1:12 scale, a detailed and lifelike miniature of South Africa’s famous Blue train and a collection of Dinky Toys