Nestled in the heart of Pretoria, Church Square is home to several historical edifices, among which the Nederlandsche Bank building stands tall, both in its physical stature and its historical significance.
The building, initially commissioned for the Nederlandsche Bank voor Suid-Afrika (now known as Nedbank), derives its name from the bank itself. In 1896, Dutch architect Wilhelm Johannes de Zwaan, a native of Amsterdam who had migrated to South Africa in 1889, was chosen to create an architectural marvel for the Netherlands Bank. His vision culminated in a Dutch Renaissance masterpiece, a style that hearkened back to the architectural brilliance of the Dutch golden age.
This wasn't de Zwaan's only contribution to Pretoria. He designed another building on Church Square, but only the Nederlandsche Bank building remains today. Furthermore, his genius stretched to several houses in Waterkloof, fortifying his mark in Pretoria's early 20th-century regional architecture.
Every element of the building screams of perfection. The exquisite wrought ironwork adorning the building was crafted by the F.W. Braat company from Delft, Netherlands. In an era when details mattered, the building's facade, made of sandstone, complements the red brick on the sides. The joints, sculpted with the precision of the Dutch Renaissance style, occasionally flaunt cut joints for added emphasis.
Delving deeper, one finds interiors steeped in the Art Nouveau style, and a cast-iron railing that boasts tulip accents - a tribute to the Dutch love for tulips. This fencing was the brainchild of the Braat company.
On December 2, 1897, the bank proudly opened its doors in this new building. This was the bank's third branch at the time and was among seven bank branches dotted around Church Square. Interestingly, this wasn’t the bank’s first building on Church Street; it replaced an earlier structure built in 1888, which was eventually converted into shops before being demolished.
Tragedy struck in 1914 when a fire ravaged the building's second floor. However, the indomitable spirit of the bank saw its restoration in 1988.
Come 1951, the Old Netherlands Bank marked its evolution by registering its South African branch as an independent subsidiary: the "Nederlandse Bank in Suid-Afrika" or "Dutch Bank in South Africa". This transformation prompted the South African government to purchase the property, which has since remained under its custody.
From 1975 to 1977, the building housed the intellectual fervor of the Department of Architecture at the University of Pretoria.
On 22 September 1995, the Old Nederlandsche Bank building, alongside Café Riche and the Law Chambers, received the esteemed title of a national monument.
Today, the Nederlandsche Bank building is more than just brick and mortar. It stands as a testament to Pretoria's rich history and the lasting ties between South Africa and the Netherlands.