Free Burghers in the Dutch Cape Colony

Free Burghers (Dutch: Vrijburgher, Afrikaans: Vryburger) were early European settlers in the 18th century who had been released of their service contracts to the Dutch East India Company (VOC) and had become full citizens (burghers). The introduction of Free Burghers to the Dutch Cape Colony is regarded as the beginning of a permanent settlement of Europeans in South Africa. The Free Burgher population eventually devolved into two distinct segments separated by social status, wealth, and education: the Cape Dutch and the Boers.

Not to be confused with Grand Burgher, Burgher (Church history), Hamburger University, or Burgher people. For information with regards to the Burghers of the Boer republics (1852–1902) visit the page: Burgher (Boer republics)
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