in 1651 he was asked to undertake the command of the initial dutch settlement in the future south africa. he landed three ships "drommedaris", "reijger" and "goede hoop" at the future cape town on 6 april 1652 and strongly make the site as a way-station for the voc trade route between the netherlands and the east indies. the "walvisch" and the "oliphant" came later, having had 130 burials at sea.