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Watch: Oom Willem takes a trip into the Namib Desert (Film 13 / Part 1)

Walvis Bay and Swakopmund: coastal gems of 1929

By Andries van Zyl • 30 August 2025
Watch: Oom Willem takes a trip into the Namib Desert (Film 13 / Part 1)

Oom Willem's 1929 film jumps from Spain to Namibia, showcasing Walvis Bay's history, Swakopmund's iconic landmarks like "Die Mole" and the Marine Memorial, and the cultural diversity of South West Africa.

Episode 13 of Oom Willem van den Berg’s travels really delivered a treasure trove of interesting places, albeit that the film jumps around a bit. This does not, however, refer to the old 16 mm film running through the projector, but rather to the difficulty of keeping track of where Oom Willem and Tante Jo were and where they went.

It is clear that Oom Willem may have been a little confused when splicing this particular film reel together. That said, he did not have the luxury, almost 1...

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