The Name

Records exist of the surrounding farms being named and farmed and occupied from around 1700 and of the Dutch Governor Simon van der Stel inscribing his name on a rock at the nearby Heerenlogement on 25 August 1685.

The first written record of the name is in a farms register where the farm De Een Kuyl was allocated to one Lucas Visagie on 6 March 1775. Later reference is made to the farm as De Eende Kuyl.

There are two versions (1) that it refers to the many waterbirds in the area (the most plausible), and (2) that there were two ajacent farms being referred to as “De Eende Kuyl” and “De Tweede Kuyl” - the first and the second Pool [see here] (no written record hereof can be found).

By the time of town establishment, the farm is referred to as “Eendekuil” and is owned by Oubaas and Christiaan Burger.

* [De Eende Kuyl (Dutch) freely translated means The Duck Pool – whereas the English language does not have a word with the exact meaning of “kuyl” –(a “pit” ?) it refers to a natural occuring pool formed typically in a river. There still is such a natural pool in the Kruismans River where it runs through the current Eendekuil farm and which borders the town. The name “Eendekuil” being the modern Afrikaans translation from the Dutch]

Establishment of the town

The development of the Copper mines at O’Kiep in Namaqualand was the initial spark to build a railway line from Cape Town northward. Although another team built a railway line from O’Kiep, where the copper mines are, to Port Nolloth and finished it before the line from Cape Town could be finished, the line was initially built to Eendekuil, and later extended, but on 15 November 1902 the rail was finished to Eendekuil on land purchased from the farmers. The passanger train, known as the “Doekvoet Flyer” carry 2441 passangers in 1904 to and from Eendekuil

This immediately sparked the building of a hotel, which was a Wood and Corrugated Iron building, and which was operational already in 1902, known as the Eendekuil Hotel, and owned by Oubaas Burger. {The building is just a 100 meters from the current hotel and is occupied as a house.}

Telephone lines were built in 1901 and in 1902 the Post office opened, housed in the station building.

Roads linking the town with the Grey’s Pass (now known as Piekenierskloof Pass) were built in 1902 to 1904.

On 1 January 1912 the school opens with 18 children. On 25 August 1913 the police station opens, by which tme the population stood at 2725 Europeans and 859 Coloured people

The Current Hotel

The hotel was built in 1951, and opened its doors on 1 January 1952. It was a hit with everyone. Dances were held over weekends. On Sundays, the local people would go to the hotel after church and linger till lunch is served. Customers came from travellers and especially the railroad users.

From 1966 to 1976 the hotel was owned by Mr M J Vermeulen, and this period proved to be the heydays of the hotel. Stories of his stricktness are abound; e.g. he would not allow customers at the dance if they failed to wear a tie. The hotel, however was very popular.

Extensions were made to the hotel in mid 1970’s to its current size of 11 rooms. The kitchen and dining room were also enlarged.

The hotel declined in popularity in the latter part of the 1990’s, mainly due to the decline of the railways and also the dissappearance of the travelling salespeople.

The hotel became a drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre in the early 2000’s and stood empty for about 4 years till it was revamped and re-opened on 1 August 2008.

What does it offer?

First and foremost, hospitality with peace and quiet.

The hotel has 11 rooms; 4 en suite; 7 sharing 2 bathrooms and can sleep 24 people. It has a pool, dance area, outside and inside bars, pool room, conference room, dining room, camping area with 60 stands, and ablution facilties with 6 showers and 6 toilets.

All rooms are air-conditioned, and with a rustic but luxurious finish.

Meals are on offer from basic plated meals to elaborate buffets.

The hotel is the ideal distance for a break away from Cape Town, and especially the niche market of the Motorcyclist doing a breakfast or lunch run from the Peninsula.