WINDHOEK
Capital of Namibia. It developed from a military post established in 1890. Became a municipality in 1909 and attained city status in October 1965. Named /Ai//gams by the Nama and Otjomuise by the Herero. Also known as Queen Adelaide’s bath, Elberfeld and Concordiaville. Windhoek (windy corner) is said to be an adaptation of Winterhoek, near Tulbagh in the Western Cape. Jonker Afrikaner, who first name it Windhoek, came from there.
Japan Embassy
• Japan Embassy, premises of Bougain mall, 78 Sam Nujoma Drive
Heinitzburg Castle
• Heinitzburg Castle, Heinitzburg St - Built in 1914 by Wilhelm Sander. He sold it to Hans Bogislav Graf von Schwerin. He named it after his wife’s birth name “von Heinitz”. Now operates as a hotel.
Sanderburg Castle
• Sanderburg Castle designed by Willi Sander and built for himself in 1917. Now a private residence
Schweringsburg Castle
• Schweringsburg Castle built in 1914. Designed by Willi Sander. Initially a watchtower and a small tavern. For a time occupied by the Italian Embassy. Now deserted.
Windhoek City Museum
• Windhoek City Museum, Robert Mugabe St & Schweringsburg St - built between 1907 and 1908. Home to former German colonial officer Count Georg von Stilfried und Rattonitz who wrote recommendations to Kaiser Wilhelm II during the Nama and Ovaherero genocide. He served under General Lothar von Trotha. A museum from November 2020.
College of the Arts & Theatre School, Robert Mugabe St
• National Heritage Council, 52 Robert Mugabe St
Military Cemetery
• Military Cemetery, Robert Mugabe Ave – Cross of Sacrifice Memorial to those who lost their lives during the two World Wars 1914-1918 and 1939 -1945. Next to and opposite the graves of those who lost their lives. The eastern side was first used in 1892 and have graves of soldiers who died during Nama and Herero wars, early settlers and civilians. The western side since 1904 are graves of South African troops who fell during WW1 and Col Von Hydebreck. Provisionally proclaimed a national monument on 9 December 1987, since lapsed. The graveyard was closed in 1927.
Christus Kirche
• Christus Kirche, Robert Mugabe rd – Designed by Gottlieb Redecker. It is the oldest Evangelical Lutheran church in Namibia. The cornerstone was laid on 11 August 1907. Consecrated on 16 October 1910. A bronze plaque was attached to the southern internal wall in 1923. On it appear the names of all the German officers, soldiers and settlers who were killed or died during the colonial wars. Proclaimed a national monument on 29 November 1974.
Alte Feste (old fort)
• Alte Feste (old fort), Robert Mugabe – Windhoek’s oldest surviving building. Positioned by Curt von Francois with his chief mason Gustav Tunschel began erecting a fort on 18 October 1890. The fort was completed in 1893. It was extended after 1901 by Gottlieb Redecker. During the Herero uprising in 1904 woman and children of the town took refuge inside. Used as headquarters by the Union of SA in 1915. A memorial plaque to the Schutztruppe killed in 1914 was unveiled on the stoep. Now a museum.
Genocide Memorial
• Genocide Memorial, in front of the old fort, Sam Nujoma st – Known as the “Their Blood Waters our Freedom” monument. Refers to the genocide of the Herero and Nama people by the Germans.
Ritter Monument
• Ritter Monument – Unveiled in 1912 it commemorates the German soldiers and civilians who lost their lives during the Herero and Nama Wars of 1904-1907. Designed by Berlin sculptor Adolf Kurle. It featured a German Schutztruppe rider on horseback. It stood in front of the Alte Feste fortress. It was removed in 2013 due to its controversial representation of colonial history. It is now stored in the courtyard of the Alte Feste museum.
Tinten Palast
• Tinten Palast, Robert Mugabe Rd - (Ink Palace) built in 1913/14 and houses the Namibian Parliament. Designed by Gottlieb Redecker and built by Sander & Kock. Used forced labour by Herero and Nama people. It was opened on 12 April 1913.
Schutzenhaus Guesthouse
• Schutzenhaus Guesthouse, Pastorie St (Ingo Klitke St) – Established in 1907. It was the oldest German Club in Southern Africa. Now a guesthouse.
Emma Hoogenhout
• Emma Hoogenhout Bld, Robert Mugabe Ave – This was the original Emma Hoogenhout Primary School, Now the administrative headquarters of the National Museum of Namibia.
The Cathedral Church of St George the Martyr
• The Cathedral Church of St George the Martyr, Love st – This Anglican church built of stone. It is the smallest functional cathedral in Southern Africa. The cornerstone was laid by Lt Col JA Venning on 3 Dec 1924
War memorial, Zoo Park
• War memorial, Zoo Park, Independence St– This memorial honours the German soldiers and allies who died in the 1893/94 Nama uprisings against German colonial domination. The Nama leader was Hendrik Witbooi. It was prefabricated in Germany. Panels bears the names of the fallen men. The memorial was unveiled on 6 April 1897. Proclaimed a national monument on 2 January 1969.
Memorial Relics of Prehistoric Elephant
• Memorial Relics of Prehistoric Elephant, Zoo park – remains of at least two slaughtered elephants of some 5000 years ago during the later Stone Age and stone tools were found on the site during excavations in 1962 by Mr E Bause. These original remains and tools are stored the National Museum of Namibia since 1991. The former site displays a memorial sculpture by Dorte Berner. The relics were proclaimed a national monument on 15 August 1963.
Clock Tower
• Clock Tower, Independent St – It resembles the corner tower of the Deutsch-Afrika-Bank, built in 1908 but later demolished. A replica was built.
Hotel Kronprinz
• Hotel Kronprinz, Independent St (prev Kaiser Wilhelm St) Architect was Wilhelm Sander. It was completed in 1902. Extended in 1908/9 and again in 1920. Provisionally proclaimed a national monument on 22 May 1987.
Gathermann House
• Gathermann House, Independent St – Designed by Wilhelm Sander. The earlier building was erected in 1913 as a combined residence and business premises for Heinrich Gathermann, mayor of Klein Windhoek. The later Gathermann building right next to earlier building was built between 1927 and 1928, symmetrical with the earlier one. Provisionally proclaimed a national monument on 22 May 1987.
Erkrath Building
• Erkrath Building, Independent St – designed by Wilhelm Sander. Constructed by Sander & Kock in 1910. The ground floor were shops and the upper storey was residences for the employees.
Old Prison
• Old Prison, Cnr Robert Mugabe st & Goethe St – Built by the German’s Work Division between 1906 and 1907. The architect was Gottlieb Redecker. It was used as a prison until 1963. In 1984 an office block was erected in the inner court. Proclaimed a National Monument on 1 April 1986.
Old Supreme Court/ Turnhalle
• Old Supreme Court/ Turnhalle, John Meinert St Turnhalle, meaning Gymnasium was where the Constitutional Conference of SWA had its first session in 1975. Designed by Otto WC Busch and constructed in 1909 by the Alherens Brothers. Gable dated 1913. First used as a gym. Then a storage area by the Schutztruppe in 1915. In 2003 it was renovated to house the SADC Tribunal.
Railway Station
• Railway Station, bottom of Bahnhof St, Built in 1912 by Deutsche Staatsbahn. It was enlarged in 1929 by South African Railways.The first railway line from Swakopmund to Windhoek was built between 1897 and 1902. The line from Keetmanshoop to Windhoek was laid in 1912 and to Gobabis in 1930. Now the Trans Namibia Railroad Museum opened on 1 July 1993.
Old Locomotive
• Old Locomotive – in front of railway station – #154 A Class Zwillinge (Twins). This was one half of an original back to back twin locomotive. Manufactured in 1903 by Henschel & Sohn, Cassel, Germany. It was assembled and placed in service at Swakopmund since 1904. In use until 1915.
Owambo Campaign Memorial,
• Owambo Campaign Memorial, garden of remembrance, near railway station – erected in 1919. It was erected by the South African Troops in memory of those troops who was killed on 6 February 1917 near Ehole in a battle against the uprising of King Mandume Ndemufayo of Kwanyama. The chief committed suicide rather than surrendering. It was claimed that his head was decapitated and buried under this monument. Now appropriated as a memorial to King Mandume.
St Mary’s Catholic Cathedral
• St Mary’s Catholic Cathedral, Werner List St cnr Mandume Ndemufajo St, Constructed by Kock& Schmidt. The cornerstone dated 1931. This church was consecrated on 24 April 1932. Extended in 1971. Proclaimed a National Monument on 15 June 1983.
Elizabeth House
• Elizabeth House, on premises of University of Namibia, Storch St – Designed by Gottlieb Redecker. Erected as a maternity home. Named after Duchess Elisabeth zu Mecklenburg, wife of the President of the German Colonial Company. The cornerstone was laid on 20 October 1907. Designed and extended in 1914/15 by Wilhelm Sander with a high-pitched roof and tower. Served as a maternity ward until 29 March 1981. It became the property of the Academy for Tertiary Education, now a part campus of the University of Namibia. Proclaimed a national monument on 15 May 1986.
Oudstryders Memorial
• Oudstryders Memorial, Bismarck st Cnr Blohm St – erected in memory of the Boer Bittereinders of the 2nd Anglo Boer War 1899-1902., Afrikaner trekboere who moved to German south West Africa to escape living under British rule.
The old Breweries
• The old Breweries, Cnr Sam Nujoma & Tal st – Originally known as the Felsenkeller Brewery established in 1901. Built by Karl Bauer and constructed by Bauer & Kretschmann. Dedicated on 12 May 1902. Alterations were done between 1912-1914. Became part of South African Breweries in 1920 and now known as Namibia Breweries. It operated as a theatre in 1990 until 2019. Now reopened as the Brewers Market in January 2020.
Ten Man Haus
• Ten Man Haus – designed by Gottlieb Redecker and erected in 1906/7 for occupation by 10 unmarried male government officials. Proclaimed a national monument on 1 August 1986.
• Ludwigdorfs Lutheran Church
John Ludwig’s Graveyard
• John Ludwig’s Graveyard, Willemien St Ludwigsdorf John Ludwig is considered to be the founder of Klein Windhoek. He was born in Germany on 03 April 1857 in Ludwigslust. He emigrated to Namibia in 1887. John Ludwig worked as a driver for the German Schutztruppe for some time and he moved to Windhoek in 1892 settling in Klein Windhoek.
• Victoria Street Cemetery, Ludwigsdorf
