By Daniëlle Gerber
Coming to Stellenbosch, you cannot miss the oak trees lining the streets. They are spread all over town and are the reason behind the name Eikestad (City of Oaks in Afrikaans) commonly used for Stellenbosch. You are sure to find an oak tree wherever you go, but have you ever wondered about their origin?
The oak trees date back to the colonization era of Stellenbosch. It is common news that Stellenbosch was ‘found’ by one Simon van der Stel in 1679. It soon became the home of many Dutch settlers, who also brought their trades to this location – under which the now-famous wine commodity falls.
The oak trees have come in quite handy in creating the barrels for winemaking, well suited for the Cape Winelands, under which Stellenbosch falls. However, the oak trees also have another reason, that being Van der Stel’s love of botany. Van der Stel organised the mass planting of European oak trees in Stellenbosch, and while the trees on our streets may not be the exact same, it created a residual trend part of Stellenbosch’s identity (Hunt, 2005 in Jones, 2017).
Jones also introduces Hunt’s book, Dutch South Africa: Early Settlers at the Cape (1652-1708), which can be used to broaden your understanding of how Stellenbosch became what it is now – rich with history and controversy.
It is impossible to imagine Stellenbosch without the oak trees providing shade and showing seasonal change to locals and tourists alike, with many being enamoured by this unusual (for South Africa) flora display. Yet, oak trees are not indigenous to our country, and it being an emblem of the town may highlight the narrative of South Africa being formed from an outside, somewhat misaligned source.
For example, oak trees are notoriously known for being thirsty and dormant in winter (meaning that it does not need water during winter) – whereas Stellenbosch is a drought-ridden area with heavy winter rainfall. This means that it is incompatible with Stellenbosch’s climate, yet the tradition speaks louder than reason and the town of Stellenbosch has never existed without this alien specimen.
Next time you are travelling through Stellenbosch, pay attention to the oak trees as they tell the story of Stellenbosch’s history and the livelihoods that used to fill the streets. This feature houses the contrast of beauty and utility within the elongated branches and casted shadows of a colonial town remembered for its roots.
