Stellenbosch University underwent rapid demographic changes after the Great Depression during the 1930s. A large amount of ladies residence’s had to be constructed in order to accommodate for the tremendous increase in female students. This was thus the start of our loving HtB community.
Huis ten Bosch’s property was bought in 1935 for a mere ₤2 250. Construction started almost immediately afterwards, which thus allowed the residence to be complete by the middle of 1937. The residence underwent further construction in the year 1960 to provide additional accommodation for about 70 students. The increase in numbers meant that Huis ten Bosch started to function as a typical modern day residence. This included the establishment of well-known traditions within our community today for example our house song and our emblem. The spirit of the Huis ten Bosch ladies soon started to make the residence feel like a home thus creating an enabling environment.
The morning of the 9th of September 1983 Huis ten Bosch’s history and future quickly changed. The well-known peaceful residence went up in flames after a heater got into contact with a student’s bed linen. Luckily, nobody sustained injuries. The ladies had to watch from the garden how their beloved home burnt down and approximately 50 students lost all of their books and belongings. The roof was completed a mere two months after the fire occurred, which allowed the ladies to move back in when the new academic year of 1984 started. The building of the 46 year old Huis ten Bosch mostly the remained the same with the only difference being the recreation hall being moved to the back.
Soon after, the ladies of Huis ten Bosch was known as the Women of Fire (now known as “Womxn of Fire”). This however was not just a description of our passionate and value-driven community – but a way of living. All ladies of Huis ten Bosch – past, present and future express an enormous amount of resilience and determination in whatever obstacle they are faced with. The story of the legendary 1983 fire brought the ladies together, creating a stronger bond and an increase in our residence pride.
Sadly, on the 12th of August 2019 at approximately 19:00 PM the flames were dancing in the back section of the residence yet again. This occurrence has brought a lot of uncertainty to our community but it has also brought us strength and perseverance. We, as Huis ten Bosch are proud of our community and are very excited to see what the future holds!
Na die Groot Depressie tydens die 1930’s het die Universiteit van Stellenbosch vinnige demografiese veranderinge ondergaan. Die universiteit moes dus meer damekoshuise bou sodat hulle die vinnige invloei van vroue studente kon akkommodeer. Hierdie kan dus gesien word as die begin van ons buitegewone HtB gemeenskap.
Die eiendom van Huis ten Bosch was in 1935 gekoop vir ₤2 250. Konstruksie het byna onmiddelik begin wat dus toegelaat het dat die koshuis teen die middel van 1937 klaar gebou was. Huis ten Bosch het verdere konstruksie ondergaan in 1960 om toe te laat dat ‘n additionele 70 studente geakkommodeer kon word. Die groei in getalle het toegelaat dat Huis ten Bosch soos ‘n moderne koshuis kon begin funktioneer. Hierdie het ook toegelaat dat die koshuis nuwe tradisies soos ons huislied en ons embleem kon aanneem. Die gees van die HtB dames het vinnig gegroei en dus die koshuis soos ‘n huis laat voel.
Die oggend van die 9de September 1983 het Huis ten Bosch se geskiedenis en toekoms vinnig verander. Ons bekende koshuis het vlam gevat nadat ‘n verwarmer in kontak gekom het met ‘n student se beddegoed. Gelukkig het niemand enige beserings opgedoen nie. Die dames van HtB moes van die tuin toekyk hoe hulle huis afbrand. Ongeveer 50 studente het al hulle boeke en besittings in die vuur verloor. Die dak van die koshuis was gelukkig vinnig herbou wat gelei het dat die dames in die nuwe akademiese jaar van 1984 terug in kon trek. Die 46-jarige gebou het meestal dieselfde gebly. Die enigste verandering was dat die ontspanningssaal na die agterkant van die koshuis geskuif was.
Huis ten Bosch se dames was binnekort bekend as die “Dames van Vuur“. Hierdie is egter nie net ‘n beskrywing van ons passievolle en waardegedrewe gemeenskap nie, maar ‘n manier van leef. Al die dames van Huis ten Bosch wys ‘n enorme mate van veerkragtigheid en vasberadenheid in alle struikelblokke wat oor hulle pad kom. Die storie van die legendariese vuur van 1983 het al die studente van die koshuis bymekaar gebring en toegelaat dat daar ‘n sterker band tussen die dames ontstaan.
Ongelukkig het Huis ten Bosch op die 12de Augustus 2019 omstreeks 19:00 die geskiedenis herleef met die vlamme wat weereens aan die agterkant van die koshuis gedans het. Hierdie het ons gemeenskap met baie onsekerheid gelaat, maar het ons ook nader aan mekaar gebring. Ons, as Huis ten Bosch is verskriklik trots op ons gemeenskap en is baie opgewonde oor wat in ons toekoms wag!