West Coast town built on its fishing industry offers much more than that to today’s visitors
Velddrif isn’t a place you pass through – it’s a place you feel. Where the tang of salt on your skin mingles with woodsmoke and bokkoms drying in the sun. Where every footstep echoes with generations of fisherfolk, artists and storytellers. And where history and heritage aren’t confined to a museum but woven into daily life – in community markets, dairy farms and riverside fisheries – all generously shared with visitors.
Visitors can take a journey into a past that’s still very much alive. Whether you’re watching fish dry in the sun, listening to stories from lifelong local inhabitants or sipping drinks by the riverside, this place invites you to step into a story that continues to unfold.
There are a number of reasons why this humble riverside town is one of the West Coast’s most rewarding heritage gems. Velddrif’s most iconic road is also its oldest. Bokkomlaan runs along the Berg River in a nostalgic loop of weathered jetties, whitewashed cottages and historic vishuise (fish sheds). The air carries the scent of salt and tradition as harders (mullet) are brined, pressed and sun-dried into bokkoms – the West Coast’s oldest delicacy and a staple of the local diet.
Once the industrial hub of the bokkom trade, Bokkomlaan has evolved into a blend of old and new. You can still watch fishermen preparing their catches by hand, but now you can also enjoy a riverside coffee or join a sunset boat ride. Don’t miss the chance to sample bokkoms served with moskonfyt (grape-must jam), a slab of homemade bread and a glass of chilled West Coast chenin.
Living history
A short distance from Bokkomlaan is Laaiplek, where the South African Fisheries Museum offers a deeper dive into the area’s seafaring history, showcasing everything from old canning tools and fishing gear to model boats and oral history recordings. It’s a compact but compelling stop that brings the ocean’s role in the area’s past to vivid life.
The working harbour in Laaiplek is well worth a visit to watch the colourfully painted trawlers return from sea with their silver bounty. This is where the community’s maritime roots are most visible, where nets are mended by hand and the scent of fresh fish drifts on the breeze.
Velddrif isn’t just a fishing town – it’s also home to one of the region’s oldest family-run farms. Langrietvlei has been in the Kotzé family for seven generations, and today, they specialise in creamy, A2 Guernsey milk, which forms the base of the award-winning locally produced Kokerboom Kaas.
The farm homestead is a declared provincial heritage site, and visitors are welcome to explore the farm and learn more about the dairy-making process. To sample Kokerboom Kaas, visit them in Waterkant Street in Velddrif and try the cumin-spiced gouda, tangy blue or soft white cheese paired with local preserves. It’s a flavorful tribute to the region’s agricultural roots – and a must-stop for any heritage food lover.
Creativity and creation
Every Saturday, the Velddrif Village Market brings the town to life with local flavour. Stalls brim with homemade jams, hand-stitched crafts, vintage gems and slow-cooked West Coast fare. It’s a warm and welcoming space where community, creativity and culture meet.
During winter, occasional heritage-themed pop-ups add even more richness, shining a spotlight on traditional recipes, local storytelling and live West Coast music.
The heritage isn’t just cultural – it’s ecological too. The town is part of a Ramsar-listed wetland and seasonal home to over 30,000 birds. In winter, the skies fill with flamingoes, pelicans, spoonbills and the endangered black harrier. Birdwatchers will find no shortage of hides, jetties and benches to settle in with a pair of binoculars and a camera.
Around August, flower fans get excited as the surrounding Sandveld begins to stir in preparation for its famous spring bloom. The town makes a wonderful base for scenic drives inland to catch the early colours.
Star turn
Travel 30km inland to the peaceful Sandveld village of Aurora, and you’ll uncover a remarkable scientific landmark: a granite monument honouring 18th-Century French astronomer Abbé Nicolas-Louis de La Caille. In 1751–1752, La Caille conducted the first geodetic (triangulated) survey in South Africa, charting a segment of the meridian arc between Cape Town and Klipfontein Farm near Aurora. His work helped determine the true shape of the Earth, and this quiet site, now a national monument, stands as a tribute to a time when even the stars were measured from West Coast soil.
The journey to Aurora is part of the experience – rolling countryside, rust-red soil and a sense of stepping back in time. It’s a scenic detour that highlights how history, science and nature intersect in unexpected corners of Bergrivier.
Velddrif lives its heritage every day. It’s in the netted hands of the fishermen. In the salty snap of a bokkom. In the gentle clang of a bell on an old wooden boat. And in the stories passed down, not just through books, but through food, friendship and the rhythm of the river. The culture isn’t put on for show – it’s part of who the people are.
Text | Supplied
Photography | Grobler du Preez, Werner Lehmann and supplied
For more information or to book a stay, go to bergriviertourism.co.za.
