The Stellenbosch University Museum, Stellenbosch, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

The Stellenbosch University Museum is a red-brick museum at 52 Ryneveld Street in the centre of Stellenbosch, South Africa. It occupies a building put up in 1907 as the Bloemhof Girls' School, and today it holds art, cultural-historical and anthropological collections run by Stellenbosch University.

The story behind it

The building went up in 1907 as Bloemhof Girls' School and was designed in the Flemish Renaissance Revival style. That style is known for exposed deep red brickwork, carved terracotta decoration with Dutch Baroque motifs, and dormers topped with miniature stepped gables or arches. It is often compared with the look of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.

In 1986 Stellenbosch University bought the former school. Renovations followed between 1989 and 1991, and the building was painted a red close to that of the brickwork, with white used to pick out the details. The effect is to stress the stylistic and structural features of the architecture. Each year the museum is also used during the Woordfees festival to show work by new and upcoming South African artists.

What to look for

• The deep red brickwork of the facade, which gives the building its strong colour and its Flemish character.
• The dormers with small stepped gables or arched tops, a signature feature of the Flemish Renaissance Revival style.
• The carved terracotta decoration with Dutch Baroque motifs.
• The white paint that outlines the architectural details and makes the stylistic elements stand out against the red.

Tips for your visit

• Allow about 30 to 60 minutes if you plan to go inside and look at the collections, or a few minutes if you only want to admire the exterior.
• Check current opening hours and whether any exhibition is on before you go, as these change.
• Soft morning or late afternoon light brings out the red brick best if you want photographs.
• The museum stands on Ryneveld Street in central Stellenbosch, so it is easy to combine with a walk through the surrounding old town streets.

See it on a quest

Failed art heist in the City of Oaks, Stellenbosch. is a good way to see the museum, as an art-themed route fits a building full of collections. You reach it on foot as one stop of a longer walk through the area, the app tells you about the place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle on the spot. One ticket covers the whole group, and you can start any time without a guide.