{{short description|Town in Erongo Region, Namibia}} {{Infobox settlement | official_name = Henties Bay | other_name = | native_name = [[Afrikaans]]: ''Hentiesbaai''<br />[[German language|German]]: ''Hentiesbucht'' | nickname = | settlement_type = Town | motto = | image_skyline = Henties bay.jpg | image_caption = Henties Bay (2018) | imagesize = 250px | image_seal = Wappen Hentiesbucht - Namibia.jpeg | seal_size = 100px | coordinates = {{coord|-22.1184|14.2824|display=inline}} | pushpin_map = Namibia#Africa | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = [[Image:Flag of Namibia.svg|25px]] [[Namibia]] | subdivision_type1 = [[Regions of Namibia|Region]] | subdivision_name1 = [[Erongo Region]] | subdivision_type2 = [[Constituencies of Namibia|Constituency]] | subdivision_name2 = [[Arandis Constituency]] <!-- Population ----------------------->| population_as_of = 2023 | population_footnotes = <ref name=nsa2023/> | population_note = | population_total = 7,569 | population_density_km2 = | population_density_sq_mi = | population_urban = | population_density_urban_km2 = | population_density_urban_sq_mi = <!-- Politics -----------------> | government_footnotes = | government_type = | leader_title = Mayor | leader_name = Titus Johannes | leader_title1 = <!-- for places with, say, both a mayor and a city manager --> | leader_name1 = | established_title = Established | established_date = 1929 | timezone = [[South African Standard Time]] | utc_offset = +2 | blank_name = [[Köppen climate classification|Climate]] | blank_info = [[Desert climate#Cold desert climates|BWk]] |registration_plate_type = [[Vehicle registration plates of Namibia|Number plate]] |registration_plate = HB | website = {{URL|hentiesbaytourism.com}} }} [[File:Schiffswrack Zeila, Namibia 2014.jpg|thumb|Shipwreck ''Zeila'' 14&nbsp;km south of Henties Bay (2014)<br />{{Coord|22|14|28|S|014|21|13|E|display=inline}}]] '''Henties Bay''' ([[English language|English]], literally: ''Henty's Bay''. [[Afrikaans]]: ''Hentiesbaai'', [[German language|German]]: ''Hentiesbucht'') is a coastal town in the [[Erongo Region]] of western [[Namibia]]. The town had 7,569 inhabitants in 2023, an increase from 3,285 in 2001.

Established as a holiday spot in the first half of the 20th century it is still a popular tourist destination for anglers and [[4x4]] enthusiasts.

==Geography== Henties Bay is located {{convert|72|km|miles}} north of [[Swakopmund]].<ref name="HistDict">{{cite book |title=Historical Dictionary of Namibia |author1=Victor Tonchi |author2=William A. Lindeke |author3=John J. Grotpeter |publisher=Scarecrow Press |year=2012 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Mls4H1mnN_0C&pg=PA165 |page=165 |isbn=9780810853980}}</ref>

{{Historical populations|2001|3,285|2011|4,720|2023|7,569|percentages=pagr|align=none|footnote=Sources:<ref name=nsa2011>{{cite web | title=4.2.2 Urban population by Census years (2001 and 2011) | url=http://cms.my.na/assets/documents/p19dmn58guram30ttun89rdrp1.pdf | work=Namibia 2011 - Population and Housing Census Main Report | publisher=[[Namibia Statistics Agency]] | access-date=2 November 2024 | page=39}}</ref><ref name=nsa2023>{{cite web | title=4.5 Population by town and census years (2011 and 2023) | url=https://nsa.org.na/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2023-Population-and-Housing-Census-Main-Report-28-Oct-2024.pdf | work=Namibia 2023 - Population and Housing Census. Main Report | publisher=[[Namibia Statistics Agency]] | access-date=2 November 2024 | pages=33–34}}</ref>}}

==History== [[Bartolomeu Dias]] sailed along the [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]] coast in 1488. Near the area of today's Henties Bay he discovered such an abundance of fish that he named this coastline ''Praia das Sardinhas'', Coast of Fish. The fresh water source was first discovered by ''[[Schutztruppe]]'' soldiers in 1886. In 1920, a minerals [[Prospecting|prospector]] stayed overnight. After tasting the water, he was said to be healed from an affliction.<ref name=1on1>{{cite web |title=Henties Bay Namibia|publisher=Namibia 1on1 |url=http://www.namibia-1on1.com/henties-bay.html |access-date=24 December 2010}}</ref>

The namesake of the town is [[Major (rank)|major]] Hendrik "Henty" Stefanus van der Merwe who arrived in the area in 1929 while searching for water. He had been hunting a [[rhinoceros]] in the arid ''hinterland'' of the Namibian coast near the [[Brandberg, Namibia|Brandberg]] in order to collect a reward from a museum in [[Pennsylvania]] that was in search of a rhino skeleton. After shooting the rhino and scraping meat from the bones, water resources of the expedition diminished, forcing the party to load the decomposing carcass and search for water.<ref name=Gondwana>{{cite news |title=Dors en 'half verrotte renosterkarkas lei tot Hentiesbaai se ontstaan |trans-title=Thirst and a decomposing rhinoceros carcass lead to the foundation of Henties Bay|language=af |newspaper=[[Die Republikein]] |publisher=Reprint of an interview with Henty van der Merwe in the magazine 'Die Brandwag' on 29 April 1977, published as 'Gondwana History#20' on 24 December 2010}}</ref><ref name=tourism>{{cite web |title=History Henties Bay Namibia |url=http://www.hentiesbaytourism.com/history.htm |publisher=Henties Bay Tourism |access-date=24 December 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101018140005/http://www.hentiesbaytourism.com/history.htm |archive-date=18 October 2010 }}</ref>

They chose to head into the direction of the Atlantic coast and reached it close to [[Cape Cross]]. From there van der Merwe and his fellows searched southwards for the mouth of the [[Omaruru River]]. A few miles south of the river mouth they discovered a deep sand valley with [[Reed (plant)|reed grass]] growing in it, advertising the presence of fresh water. Van der Merwe liked the place and after delivering the bones and collecting his reward, returned the following Christmas to build a wooden hut in the riverbed. The place became known as ''Henty se baai'' (Henty's Bay) and developed into a holiday hideout,<ref name=Gondwana/> mainly because of the abundance of fish at this spot.<ref name=1on1/> Stefanus was one of the first to promote the town as a tourist resort.<ref name="HistDict"/>

In 1951 the South–West Africa Administration [[Mandate (international law)|mandate]]d to [[South Africa]], proclaimed [[Cadastre|erven]] in the Omaruru riverbed that were available for rent, but the erection of permanent structures was not allowed. The first shop was established during that time. A lighthouse was erected to guide ships along the dangerous Namibian coast. In the 1960s mining holes were dug after diamonds had been found in the area on a few occasions. A few years later mining was abandoned due to lack of success. In 1966 it was decided that the riverbed must not be settled in, and property north and south of it was sold. A hotel was built one year later, and the town began to develop.<ref name=tourism/>

==Economy and infrastructure== [[Areva]], a French company that built the first desalination plant in Southern Africa at [[Wlotzkasbaken]], {{Convert|30|km}} north of Swakopmund,<ref>{{Cite web | title=Areva Resources Namibia | publisher=[[Areva]] | url=http://www.areva.com/EN/operations-595/areva-resources-namibia-training-and-mining-projects.html|access-date=12 August 2017}}</ref> has proposed constructing a desalination facility north of Henties Bay. Plans also include an environmentally sustainable facility for the production of [[Jatropha]], a source of bio-fuel which is adapted to arid environments. According to designers, the desalination plant would have capacity to supply water to the nearby towns of [[Uis]], [[Okombahe]] and Henties Bay.<ref>{{Cite news | title=New desalination plans for coast | last=Hartman | first=Adam | newspaper=[[The Namibian]] | date=7 June 2016 | page=5 | url=http://www.namibian.com.na/151610/archive-read/New-desalination-plans-for-coast | access-date=20 July 2017 | archive-date=13 August 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813013455/http://www.namibian.com.na/151610/archive-read/New-desalination-plans-for-coast | url-status=dead }}</ref>

In July 2017, the [[University of Namibia]] (UNAM) revealed plans to establish a marine engineering and mining training facility at the coast. An eight-hectare piece of land had been donated by the town's municipality for the development of the School of Marine Engineering and Maritime Studies.<ref>{{Cite news | title=Namibia to establish mining and marine institutes at the coast | date=3 July 2017 | publisher=eNews Channel Africa | url=http://www.enca.com/africa/namibia-to-establish-mining-and-marine-institutes-at-the-coast | access-date=20 July 2017 | archive-date=31 October 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191031065756/https://www.enca.com/africa/namibia-to-establish-mining-and-marine-institutes-at-the-coast | url-status=dead }}</ref> In October 2020 UNAM inaugurated a desalination drinking water bottling plant, an extension of the institution's development plan which has been commissioned in May 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.afrik21.africa/en/namibia-a-desalinated-water-bottling-plant-inaugurated-at-henties-bay/|title = NAMIBIA: A desalinated water bottling plant inaugurated at Henties Bay|date = 23 October 2020|access-date = 23 October 2020|archive-date = 26 October 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201026165651/https://www.afrik21.africa/en/namibia-a-desalinated-water-bottling-plant-inaugurated-at-henties-bay/|url-status = dead}}</ref>

Henties Bay has a National Traffic Information System (NaTIS) office and issues the [[Vehicle registration plates of Namibia|number plate]] <code>HB</code>.<ref>{{Cite news | last=Hamalwa | first=Festus | date=28 January 2025 | title=Five towns get green light to register vehicles | newspaper=[[New Era (Namibia)|New Era]] | url=https://neweralive.na/five-towns-get-green-light-to-register-vehicles/ | language=en-ZA}}</ref>

===Tourism=== The town is predominantly a tourist destination for anglers and [[four-wheel drive|4x4]] enthusiasts. Since the late 1990s, its real estate market has grown significantly, especially for high-end vacation homes.<ref name=1on1/> It serves as a gateway to the [[pinniped|seal]] colony of [[Cape Cross]], which lies {{convert|46|km|miles}} to the north of the town.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mLkyDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT674 |page=674 |title=Lonely Planet Southern Africa |author1=Anthony Ham |author2=James Bainbridge |author3=Lucy Corne |author4=Mary Fitzpatrick |author5=Trent Holden |author6=Brendan Sainsbury |publisher=[[Lonely Planet]] |year=2017 |isbn=9781787012400}}</ref>

Henties Bay is situated in the National West Coast Recreation Area, but there are not many restrictions, particularly for driving off-road on the beach and across the plains. This brings tourists into the area, but puts a burden on the sensitive environment. Specifically endangered, are the [[lichen]] fields which take decades to recover from tracks cut through them, and the [[Damara tern]] which is endemic to the [[Skeleton Coast]] and threatened by [[habitat destruction|habitat loss]].<ref name=conservation>{{cite web |title=Conservation in Henties Bay |url=http://www.hentiesbaytourism.com/conservation.htm |publisher=Henties Bay Tourism |access-date=24 December 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110119050300/http://www.hentiesbaytourism.com/conservation.htm |archive-date=19 January 2011 }}</ref> A new multimillion-dollar tourism centre was inaugurated in October 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|title=New Tourism Information Centre inaugurated | date=12 October 2016|publisher=Henties Bay Tourism Association|url=http://www.hentiesbaytourism.com/tourism-information-centre_imauguration/}}</ref>

==Politics== Henties Bay is governed by a municipal council<ref name="ALANlist">{{cite web |url=http://www.alan.org.na/?q=localauthorities/list |title=Local Authorities |publisher=Association of Local Authorities in Namibia (ALAN) |access-date=1 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130610203011/http://www.alan.org.na/?q=localauthorities%2Flist |archive-date=10 June 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> that has seven seats.<ref>{{Cite news | title=Know Your Local Authority | publisher=Institute for Public Policy Research | newspaper=Election Watch | year = 2015 | issue=3 | page=4}}</ref> Henties Bay is home to the [[Civic Association of Henties Bay]], a local political party which contests local elections. The mayor of Henties Bay is Titus Johannes.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.facebook.com/ObserverNamibia |title=Windhoek Observer {{!}} Windhoek |language=en-US |access-date=2026-03-14 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251024185047/https://www.facebook.com/ObserverNamibia |archive-date=2025-10-24}}</ref>

From 2004 to 2010, the local authority of Henties Bay included three members of the Civic Association, three SWAPO members and one member of the [[United Democratic Front (Namibia)|United Democratic Front]] (UDF).<ref>{{Cite news | last=Barnard | first=Maggie | title=New mayor to heal rift in Henties community | newspaper=[[The Namibian]] | date=4 June 2004 | url=https://www.namibian.com.na/6249/archive-read/New-mayor-to-heal-rift-in-Henties-community-THE}}</ref> In the [[Namibian local and regional elections, 2010|2010 local election]], the Civic Association received most votes (approximately 44%), while [[SWAPO]] finished in 2nd place with approximately 37% of the votes. The [[Rally for Democracy and Progress (Namibia)|Rally for Democracy and Progress]], which was the party of opposition in the [[National Assembly of Namibia|National Assembly]] following the [[Namibian general election, 2009|2009 general election]], also contested the election and received 4%.<ref>{{Cite news | last=Kisting | first=Denver | title= Swapo dominates local polls | newspaper=[[The Namibian]] | date=1 December 2010 | url=https://www.namibian.com.na/73657/archive-read/Swapo-dominates-local-polls-SWAPO-dominated-the}}</ref>

The [[Namibian local and regional elections, 2015|2015 local authority elections]] were won by SWAPO who gained three seats (702 votes). Two seats went to the UDF (357 votes), while the Civic Association and the [[Democratic Turnhalle Alliance]] (DTA) gained one seat each with 266 and 129 votes, respectively.<ref>{{cite web | title=Local elections results | publisher=[[Electoral Commission of Namibia]] | page=1 | url=http://www.ecn.na/documents/27857/218731/LA+results+%28press+release%29+2015.pdf/870a030b-8547-487f-ad18-b22713b16d4c?version=1.0 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151210194328/http://www.ecn.na/documents/27857/218731/LA+results+%28press+release%29+2015.pdf/870a030b-8547-487f-ad18-b22713b16d4c?version=1.0 | url-status=dead | archive-date=10 December 2015 | date=28 November 2015 | access-date=11 August 2017 }}</ref>

The [[2020 Namibian local and regional elections|2020 local authority election]] was narrowly won by the [[Republican Party (Namibia)|Republican Party]] (RP). It obtained 543 votes and gained two seats. SWAPO came second with 539 votes and also won two seats. One seat each was obtained by the [[Independent Patriots for Change]] (IPC, newly formed in August 2020, 297 votes), the UDF (269 votes) and the [[Popular Democratic Movement]] (PDM, 208 votes).<ref>{{Cite web | title=2020 Local Authority Elections Results and Allocation of Seats | page=4 | date=29 November 2020 | publisher=[[Electoral Commission of Namibia]] | url=https://www.ecn.na/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Media-Release-on-LA-Results_2020.pdf | access-date=5 December 2020 | archive-date=24 January 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210124162938/https://www.ecn.na/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Media-Release-on-LA-Results_2020.pdf | url-status=dead }}</ref>

In November 2009, three town councillors, the town human resources manager and the town CEO were arrested on corruption charges stemming from the hiring of friends of the officials as general labourers in 2007.<ref>{{cite news |title=Five Henties Council officials arrested |last=Hartmann |first=Adam |newspaper=[[The Namibian]] |url=http://www.namibian.com.na/index.php?id=28&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=61538&no_cache=1 |date=6 November 2009}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist|30em}}

[[Category:Cities in Namibia]] [[Category:Populated places in Erongo Region]] [[Category:Populated coastal places in Namibia]] [[Category:Populated places founded by Afrikaners]] [[Category:Populated places established in 1929]]