Windhoek, Capital city in central Namibia.
Windhoek is the capital in central highland Namibia, nestled in a valley at roughly 1650 meters between the Eros Mountains to the east and the Auas Mountains to the south. The city spreads across several districts, from the busy center along Independence Avenue to residential areas climbing the slopes of the surrounding hills.
The first lasting settlement emerged in 1840 when Jonker Afrikaner and the Orlam community established a center here, later receiving its characteristic urban layout during the German colonial period from 1890 onward. After World War I, South Africa took over administration until Namibia gained independence in 1990, making it the capital of the new state.
At Zoo Park and Joe's Beerhouse, locals gather for barbecues and celebrations, while Penduka workshops display traditional crafts from Herero and Damara communities. On weekends, city markets fill with vendors from different ethnic groups offering dried meat, vegetables and homemade goods.
Most sights lie along Independence Avenue and in the compact center, which is walkable, while outer districts are better reached by taxi or rental car. Hosea Kutako International Airport sits roughly 45 kilometers to the east, with a second smaller airfield, Eros Airport, closer to the city center for domestic connections.
The parliament building, locally known as the Ink Palace, carries pink sandstone walls and a green copper roof recalling the German colonial era. Less known is the Christuskirche from 1910, a Lutheran church with neo-Gothic and Art Nouveau elements standing on a hill above downtown.
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