Simon van der Stel leads an expedition to Namaqualand

From August 1685 to January 1686, Simon van der Stel led a large VOC expedition north from the Cape. The party carried wagons, livestock, firearms and provisions, travelled through Namaqua territories and searched for copper-bearing mountains. The official journal recorded routes, camps, natural history and encounters with Namaqua people, and was accompanied by coloured illustrations.

Significance

The expedition produced an illustrated journal and strengthened VOC interest in the resources, routes and communities of north-western southern Africa.