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Oom Willem not only a traveller, but also a story teller

Hendrik Bosch: a Dutchman's misadventures in love and farming

By Anton van Zyl • 26 July 2025
Oom Willem not only a traveller, but also a story teller

Journey back to 1920s South Africa with Oom Willem van den Berg's captivating tales. This week, discover the humorous and heartbreaking courtship of Hendrik Bosch, an anthropologist who found love and loss on an African farm.

For several weeks now, we have been “touring” with Oom Willem van den Berg. Guided by the 16mm film reels he left behind, we have travelled back in time to the places he visited between 1926 and the early 1930s.

Over the next few weeks, we will continue the journey, but this week we pause to find out more about the man himself. Oom Willem was also a prolific storyteller. Fortunately, he shared some of his tales with friends, and these delightful stories were preserved for future generat...

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