{{Infobox settlement | name = Velddrif | image_skyline = {{Photomontage | photo1a = Velddrif.jpg | photo2a = Bokkoms Velddrif - West Coast, South Africa (3918637765).jpg | photo2b = Velddrif Bird View.jpg | photo3a = Port Owen at Velddrif.jpg | photo3b = Langrietvlei opstal.jpg | spacing = 1 | color_border = white | color = white | size = 280 | foot_montage = {{resize|114%|From top, fishing piers on the Berg River. Left middle, a fisherman and his catch. Right middle, Bird's eye view of Velddirf. Below left, Port Owen at Velddrift. Below right, Farmhouse between Hopefield and Velddrif.}} }} | image_caption = | pushpin_map = South Africa Western Cape#South Africa | coordinates = {{coord|32|47|S|18|10|E|region:ZA|display=inline,title}} | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = South Africa | subdivision_type1 = Province | subdivision_name1 = Western Cape | subdivision_type2 = District | subdivision_name2 = West Coast | subdivision_type3 = Municipality | subdivision_name3 = Bergrivier | subdivision_type4 = Main Place | established_title = Established | leader_title = Councillor | area_footnotes = <ref name="census2011">{{cite web |url=https://census2011.adrianfrith.com/place/162006 |title = Main Place Velddrif |work=Census 2011}}</ref> | area_total_km2 = 8.87 | population_footnotes = <ref name="census2011" /> | population_total = 17043 | population_as_of = 2022 | population_density_km2 = auto <!-- demographics (section 1) --> | demographics_type1 = Racial makeup (2011) | demographics1_footnotes = <ref name="census2011" /> | demographics1_title1 = Black African | demographics1_info1 = 12.2% | demographics1_title2 = Coloured | demographics1_info2 = 57.1% | demographics1_title3 = Indian/Asian | demographics1_info3 = 0.5% | demographics1_title4 = White | demographics1_info4 = 29.6% | demographics1_title5 = Other | demographics1_info5 = 0.6% <!-- demographics (section 2) --> | demographics_type2 = First languages (2011) | demographics2_footnotes = <ref name="census2011" /> | demographics2_title1 = Afrikaans | demographics2_info1 = 83.5% | demographics2_title2 = Xhosa | demographics2_info2 = 8.7% | demographics2_title3 = English | demographics2_info3 = 5.8% | demographics2_title4 = | demographics2_info4 = | demographics2_title5 = Other | demographics2_info5 = 2.1% <!-- blank fields (section 2) --> <!-- Other information --> | timezone1 = SAST | utc_offset1 = +2 | postal_code_type = Postal code (street) | postal_code = 7365 | postal2_code_type = PO box | postal2_code = 7365 | area_code_type = Area code | area_code = 022 }} '''Velddrif''' (the name of the town) or '''Velddrift''' (the name of the farm on which the town was established), is a coastal fishing town in the Bergrivier Local Municipality, Western Cape, South Africa. The town had a population 12507 in 2015<ref name="routes">{{cite web|url=http://www.routes.co.za/wc/velddrif/index.html|title=Velddrif|publisher=www.routes.co.za|access-date=June 19, 2010}}</ref> and is located on the estuary at which the Berg River flows into St. Helena Bay.
==Geography and environment== Velddrif is located approximately {{convert|145|km}} north of Cape Town to which it is connected by the R27 road.<ref name="Rough">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rXN6xJjPlrwC&pg=PA289|author=Pinchuck, T., McCrea, B., Reid, D|title=Rough Guide to South Africa, Lesotho & Swaziland|publisher=Rough Guides|pages=289–90|year=2002|isbn=1-85828-853-3}}</ref> The R27 joins the R399 at Velddrif, which is near the point at which the meandering Berg River flows into the sea at St. Helena Bay. The estuary is an important [http://www.gideonestates.co.za/index.php/birding/17-birds bird]{{Dead link|date=November 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }} habitat and is home to around 30,000 birds, including up to 80 species which are endemic to the Cape coast.<ref name="routes"/> Well over 350 different species of birds can be seen here, as it is a habitat for sea, river and land birds.
Flowers grow in this area, including the ''Euclea racemosa'' (Kersbos), ''Babiana ringens'' (Rotstert), ''Willdenowia incurvata'' (Sonkwas Riet), ''Limonium'' (Strandroos) and ''Leucospermum rodolentum'' (Sandveld Luisebos).<ref name="routes"/> Regular boat trips can be taken up the river for birdwatching.<ref name="Places">{{cite web|url=http://www.places.co.za/html/velddrif.html|title=Velddrif|publisher= Southern African Places|access-date=June 19, 2010}}</ref>
==History== The name ''Velddrif'' is derived from a drift in the field ({{langx|af|veld}}) through which a local farmer, Theunis Smit, took his stock to access grazing across the Berg River.<ref name="Places"/> In 1899, a ''pont'' (pontoon ferry) was built to cross the Berg River.<ref name="Places"/>
==Economy== The main industries of Velddrif are fishing, tourism and salt production. There are two large salt works in the town that provide much of the salt in the Western Cape. The fishing industry is substantial in Velddrif; the town is part of the Crayfish Route. A common sight in the area are the rickety wooden jetties on which the dried fish speciality, ''bokkoms'', is hung out to dry.<ref name="routes"/><ref name="Rough"/> The town contains Port Owen, which comprises 100 hectares and has 3.5 km of waterways.
The town attracts a number of tourists, especially for its wildlife, fishing, yachting and art galleries, which represents the work of over 100 artists and craftsmen in the area.<ref name="Rough"/><ref name="Places"/> Birdwatching is a significant component of the town's tourism sector, as the Berg River Estuary, next to the town, is famous as a rare bird hotspot with over 200 species found in the 24,000 ha wetland.<ref name="VTbirding">{{cite web | url=http://velddriftourism.co.za/discover/birding | title=Birding | publisher=Velddrif Tourism | access-date=11 November 2015}}</ref><ref name="Cape Birding">{{cite web | url=http://www.capebirdingroute.org/West_Coast_Berg_River_Estuary.htm | title=Berg River Estuary, Velddrif | publisher=Cape Birding Rout | access-date=11 November 2015}}</ref>
There are numerous restaurants in Velddrif and nearby Laaiplek(which is a neighbourhood of Velddrif) that serve fresh fish and other seafood. A holiday resort has grown up around the marina area of Port Owen and Admiral Island Security Village.<ref name="West">{{cite book|author=Truter, Cornel|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VipFooArB5sC&pg=PA46|title=West Coast Tourist Guide|publisher=Juta and Company Ltd|year=1998|page=86|isbn=1-919713-24-7}}</ref> The annual Berg River Canoe Marathon starts in Paarl and ends at the Carinus Bridge Velddrif.<ref name="Rough"/><ref name="West"/> The first Berg River Canoe Marathon was held in 1962, has gained a reputation for being one of the toughest courses in the world and is the longest course in South Africa. Ayesha Abdool Aziz, who hails from Edgemead Primary, holds the current record for the group aged under 9.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.southafrica.net/sat/content/en/us/event-detail?oid=10061&sn=Detail&pid=31119|title=Berg River Canoe Marathon|publisher=www.southafrica.net|access-date=June 19, 2010}}</ref>
==Education== '''Hoërskool Velddrif''' [Velddrif High School] is a public high school in Velddrif, Western Cape, South Africa. It is an Afrikaans combined upper and lower secondary school with approximately 500 students.
Hoërskool Velddrif was founded in 1890 as a private school.
; List of school principals: {| class="wikitable" ! Years !! Name |- | 1890–1893 || Daniël Orffer |- | 1894–1925 || P.J. Geldenhuys |- | 1925–1926 || I.J. Smit |- | 1927–1931 || A.P. Viljoen |- | 1932–1936 || C.J. Potgieter |- | 1936–1943 || J.H. Burger |- | 1944–1966 || P.J. Louw |- | 1967–1982 || G. Nieuwoudt |- | 1982–1996 || D.J.E. Smit |- | 1996–2012 || D.J.A. Brand |- | 2013–2022 || A. van der Westhuizen |- |2022- |L. van Rensburg (Acting) |} thumb|Hoërskool Velddrif The school crest represents the environs of Velddrif. Five wavy white lanes represent water, namely the Berg River and the sea. The boat is a stylized version of a fishing boat, honoring Velddrif's fishing industry, on which the town's economy was largely built. The bridge indicates the bridge between youth and adulthood. The sun relates to the schools motto: "Strive Higher."
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{West Coast District Municipality}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Populated places in the Bergrivier Local Municipality Category:Populated places founded by Afrikaners