Amsterdam, Grass & Wetlands
Despite being named after the city in the Netherlands this pretty little town, virtually on the border with Swaziland, was originally settled by the Scottish when 300 of them arrived with a man named McCorkindale who did not just want to settle here, but hoped to develop an ambitious sea route to the port he intended establishing at the mouth of the Usutu River.
McCordindale was obviously no stranger to entrepreneurship and was something of a visionary. He initially arrived in South Africa to settle in Zululand intending to grow cotton. On suggestion from his brother-in-law that the area west of the Swaziland border was a good place to further McCorkindale's idea of a Scottish settlement in South Africa, he formed the Glasgow & South African Company.
He then convinced the government of the time to sell him 200 farms close to the Swaziland border, to which he also gave a series of Scottish names (Iona, Dumbarton, Craigie Lea etc.), to which he intended to entice the Scottish as part of an immigration scheme. He called the area New Scotland and intended bringing farmers, mechanics, traders and miners to the area (a bit like the 1820 settlement at the Cape).
McCorkindale also proposed to make the River Usutu navigable and to provide the land-locked Transvaal with an outlet through Delagoa Bay. He returned to Britain to raise capital and recruit migrants taking along President Pretorius's daughter, Christina, to see Europe (Chrissiesmeer was named after her).
His ambitions outweighed his capabilities and he returned having raised little of either, bar persuading some of his relatives, and a few Scots from Natal, to move to New Scotland. Around 50 people settled at the lake called Chrissie. McCorkindale then fell foul of maleria whilst on a survey to Delagoa Bay and died.
Leaderless, most of the Scottish farmers left their farms and returned home, and McCorkindale's wife was apparently tied up in legal and financial complications for much of her life.
Today Amsterdam is a demure sheep farming town surrounded by huge gum, pine and wattle plantations, close to the Swazi border.
If you can, cross the border and visit the Usutu Forest, the largest man-made forest in the world.
In the vicinity
Hotels & other accommodation options

De Loft Guest House
De Loft Guest House offers accommodation in Piet Retief. We are a favourite halfway stop on the N2 for many tourist destinations, like the Kruger...

Hippo @ Emahlathini
Hippo offers accommodation in Piet Retief on the Emahlathini Guest Farm. It's tranquil and peaceful environment makes it the ideal stop-over for ...

Kralinbergh Guest House
Kralinbergh Guest House is a beautiful rock and sandstone manor, built in 1916, situated on a working farm and about 4 km outside of Ermelo. Kral...

DeKotzenhof
DeKotzenhof Guest House is situated in the second oldest town of Mpumalanga, Wakkerstroom. DeKotzenhof Guest House provides comfortable bed and b...

Penny Lane Guest House
Located in Ermelo, Penny Lane Guest House is ideally situated just off Kerk Street and is close to all amenities and restaurants making it ideal ...

The Wool House
The Wool House offers guests a choice of rooms furnished with comfortable Queen-size beds and en-suite bathrooms. Each of the rooms has a desk as...

Chateau B&B
Chateau B&B offers tranquillity and privacy in ten suites. Each luxurious suite has been professionally decorated with individual charm in French...

Pablo Guest House
Situated in a quiet suburb of Ermelo, Pablo Guest House offers nine en-suite bedrooms on a bed and breakfast basis. All our double rooms have en-...

TWK Welverdiend Guesthouse
Situated in the town of Piet Retief, the TWK Welverdiend Guesthouse offers comfortable accommodation in six twin rooms, each with an en-suite bat...
Things to do in the area

Rainbow Route
The Rainbow Route links the provinces of Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal starting at Carolina. It passes through the towns of Kriel, Bethal, Ermelo,...
Noteworthy attractions

Badplaas Golf Club
Badplaas Golf Course is privately owned nine hole golf course located in Mpumalanga at the feet of the formidable and striking Hlumu-Hlumu mounta...

Nooitgedacht Dam Nature Reserve
Nooitgedacht Dam Nature Reserve, renowned for its access to great fishing opportunities, lies just 10 kilometres from Carolina on the Komati Rive...

Ermelo Golf Club
An excellent 18-hole course layout with plenty of challenging holes. The Ermelo country club is in Hendrina Road on the left just before the town...

Nelshoogte Pass
Nelshoogte Pass, sometimes known simply as Nelshoogte or Nelsberg Pass, lies on the R38 between Barberton and Badplaas directly north of the Nkom...

Piet Retief Country Club
Although it has nine holes, the Piet Retief golf course can be played as an 18-hole course. Tee times are welcomed and the club is open all week ...

The Giant Footprint
Lothair also promises visitors a peek into some of its mystery. Was this once the home of giants? A strange question under normal circumstances, ...
Find accommodation in Amsterdam
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