TRANSVAAL IN AMSTERDAM

There's a little piece of the Transvaal  - in an eastern Amsterdam suburb called Transvaal. Here you'll find Pretorius Street, as well as Kruger, Steyn, Joubert, Reitz, De la Rey, Paardekraal, Laingsnek, Schalk Burger and Tugela Streets. Name changes haven't been spared - Pretorius Plein is now known as Steve Biko Plein. Kruger Plein remains as is. In Afrikaner Plain there is a a Javanese restaurant. There is a Transvaal Apotheek. In the late 19th century, Amsterdam incorporated the small towns of Amstel en Diemen into the city, and started two housing developments - Transvaal and the Indische Buurt. Before Nazi Germany invaded the Netherlands in 1940, this suburb had a large Jewish population. Today, Transvaal has seen better days, but still has a neighbourhood atmosphere. Its 10 000 residents are made up of 35% Dutch origins and the rest of non-Dutch origins. The suburb also has its socio-economic problems - poor education, high unemployment, debt, drugs, and language problems.