I could trace my family history back as far as 1686 when my great, great..... Grandfather was born in Zeeland in Europe.

Zeeland is a Province of the Netherlands in todays terms and consists of a number of islands hence the name (meaning sea-land). Zeeland is a strip of land-see that borders Belgium.

Middelburg is the Capital of Zeeland and lies in the centre of a former island of Zeeland called Walcheren.

Servaas De Kock (my great, great.... Grandfather) was born in 1686 and moved form Middelburg in Zeeland to Cape Town in 1707.

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Orignally Walcheren was an island but polders and a dam across the Oosterschelde have connected it to the former island of Zuid Beveland, which in turn was connected to the North Brabant mainland.

Middelburg was founded in the 9th century as one of three fortresses hence the name: Middel(middle) and burg(fortress). Very soon the small fortress and settlement turned into a trade centre. Around 1123 monks established an abbey in Middelburg which became a religious centre of major importance. For centuries the islands of Zeeland were claimed by both county of Flanders and the county of Holland. Although politically in 1323 Holland won the conflict the Flemish influence remained and played the most prominant role in the community. It will be fair to say that Servaas De Kock was mostly Flemish.

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Flanders is the community of the Flemmings. Flanders has figured prominently in European history. The Flemish were important allies of the Normans in their conquest for England (1066) and the invasion of Ireland (1169-1171).