Dutch Reformed Church, Matara

The Dutch Reformed Church in Matara is a colonial structure featuring rounded windows on its sides and a pillared verandah opening to the south. The building accommodates around 200 people and stands within the fort complex as a compact but solidly built place of worship.

The church was built in 1706 and reconstructed in 1767 following the Matara Rebellion, with this rebuilding marked by an inscription above the entrance. The reconstruction showed how colonial authorities responded to local resistance by reinforcing their presence.

The building served the Reformed faith brought by Dutch settlers to this coastal region. Visitors walking inside see graves laid into the floor, a direct reminder of how European communities formed permanent roots here.

The church is located within the fort complex and is accessible from the southern entrance as the main way in. Visitors should dress respectfully as it remains an active place of worship.

The floor is paved with multiple gravestones, including one from 1686 belonging to Barbara Jongeling, wife of Lambert Lambertijn. This practice of burying community members beneath the church floor was common among European colonists and turns the interior into a ground-level cemetery.

Location: Matara

Architectural style: Doric order

Website: http://wolvendaal.org/churches-monuments/matara-church

GPS coordinates: 5.94472,80.54670

Latest update: December 14, 2025 14:23