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© 2026 Fame.am

Jan van Riebeeck

Dutch colonial governor (1619–1677)

  • Fame54.0
  • Momentum0.4
  • Scientists rank#229
Source-basedStable
  • Fame54.0
  • Momentum0.4
  • Scientists rank#229
  • Wikipedia6.9K
Lived 1619–1677, aged 58Netherlands
Netherlands flagNetherlandsScientistsScientist
  • Wikipedia
    41 languages
    Cross-language footprint
  • Era
    1619–1677
    Aged 58
Network

In their orbit

People connected to Jan van Riebeeck

Maria van Riebeeck
SpouseMaria van Riebeeck
MS
SpouseMaria Scipio
AV
FatherAnthony van Riebeeck
EG
MotherElisabeth Govertsdr.
Abraham van Riebeeck
ChildAbraham van Riebeeck
JV
ChildJoan van Riebeeck
AV
ChildAntonia van Riebeeck
Summary
Updated 2026-06-08

He founded the first permanent European settlement at the Cape of Good Hope in 1652, a supply station that became the seed of colonial South Africa.

Key facts
Profile type
Scientist
Category
Scientists
Country
Netherlands
Category rank
#229
Last updated
2026-06-08
Biography

About

Johan Anthoniszoon van Riebeeck was born on 21 April 1619 in the Dutch Republic. A merchant by trade, he entered the service of the Dutch East India Company and in 1652 was appointed the first Commander of the Cape, tasked with establishing a way station for ships rounding Africa. He held that post for a decade, until 1662, overseeing the settlement's early years before moving on to other company positions. Van Riebeeck died on 18 January 1677, having set in motion a colonial presence that would shape the region for centuries.

Voice

In their own words

Sourced, dated quotes from Jan van Riebeeck

Jan van Riebeeck
said · Jan 1656
Hollanders are not a nation to rob another of its property, but desire to live in friendship with all people, and trade with them.
— Precis of the Archives of the Cape of Good Hope (c. January 1656 - December 1658), as quoted in Riebeeck's Journal (1897), by H. C. V.
Jan van Riebeeck
said · Jan 1656
Be careful in always having a good beacon fire, as the signals entirely depend upon it, that the ships may enter the bay in safety".
— Precis of the Archives of the Cape of Good Hope (c. January 1656 - December 1658), as quoted in Riebeeck's Journal (1897), by H. C. V.
Jan van Riebeeck
said · Jan 1656
You shall also keep your fires burning if the ships are blown back by contrary winds, but if the ships are foreign or not Dutch (onduitsch) you shall at once extinguish your fire.
— Precis of the Archives of the Cape of Good Hope (c. January 1656 - December 1658), as quoted in Riebeeck's Journal (1897), by H. C. V.
Jan van Riebeeck
said · Dec 1651
[T]hat our prosperity may never forget God's mercies shown to us, but always keep them in grateful memory.
— Precis of the Archives of the Cape of Good Hope (c. December 1651 - December 1653), as quoted in Riebeeck's Journal (1897), by H. C. V.
via Wikiquote · CC BY-SA
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Filed under

Tags & topics

#Historical Figures#Scientist#Chemistry#Politics#Early Modern Era
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By the numbers

Score breakdown

The six component signals behind the Fame score, and their ranks across the leaderboards.

Fame
Stable
54.0
Composite of search demand, mentions, audience & graph footprint.
Score components
Momentum0.4
Historical22.5
Source confidence60.0
Completeness70.0
Global rank
—
Country rank
—
Category rank
→
#229
Receipts

Sources

  • Wikidata
    wikidata · wikidata.org
    High confidence
  • Wikipedia
    wikipedia · en.wikipedia.org
    High confidence
  • Pantheon 2.0
    database · pantheon.world
    High confidence
Identity

Quick facts

Country
Netherlands
Category
Scientists
Profile type
Scientist
Status
deceased
Born
April 21, 1619
Died
January 18, 1677
Wikipedia
View article
Last updated
1mo ago
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