Britain returns the Cape to the Netherlands and the flag of the Batavian Republic is hoisted on the Castle

Date: 21 Feb 1803
Updated: 21 Feb 2022

In terms of the Treaty of Amiens, signed in 1802 (between England and France), the British officially returned the Cape Colony to the Netherlands on 21 February 1803. It was then renamed the Batavian Republic and the flag of the Batavian Republic was hoisted on the Castle. The Dutch only governed for three years (1803-1806), but their enlightened administration of the Cape was a great improvement upon the rule of the Dutch East India Company, which had lasted from 1652 to 1795. Commissioner-General J.A. de Mist and the Governor of the Cape of Good Hope, Lieutenant-General J.W. Janssens, sponsored development and reforms. In short the colonial history of the Cape of Good Hope from its first occupation in 1652 is as follows: Dutch rule in the cape colony 1652 - 1795 British occupation 1795 - 1803 Return to Dutch rule 1803 - 1806 Second British occupation 1806

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How we know this

01Potgieter, D.J. et al. (eds)(1970). Standard Encyclopaedia of Southern Africa, Cape Town: NASOU, v. p. 202 & 516
02Kruger, D.W. (ed)(1979). Geskiedenis van Suid-Afrika; verwerk en bygewerk deur D.W. Kruger; 3de bygewerkte uitg, Goodwood, Cape Town: NASOU, p. 140.
03Howcroft, P. (undated). South Africa Encyclopaedia: Prehistory to the year 2000, unpublished papers donated to SA History Online

Last updated · 21 Feb 2022

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2011, March 16). Britain returns the Cape to the Netherlands and the flag of the Batavian Republic is hoisted on the Castle. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0010884

South African History Online (2011) 'Britain returns the Cape to the Netherlands and the flag of the Batavian Republic is hoisted on the Castle', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0010884 (Accessed: 2 October 2026).

South African History Online, Britain returns the Cape to the Netherlands and the flag of the Batavian Republic is hoisted on the Castle [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0010884, (accessed 2 October 2026).

"Britain returns the Cape to the Netherlands and the flag of the Batavian Republic is hoisted on the Castle." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0010884. Accessed 2 Oct. 2026.

South African History Online. "Britain returns the Cape to the Netherlands and the flag of the Batavian Republic is hoisted on the Castle." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0010884.