Palm Tree Mosque

The Palm Tree Mosque stands at 185 Long Street in Cape Town, in South Africa's Western Cape province. It occupies a former residential building and is also known by the name of Jan van Bougies. The building is described as one of the oldest on Long Street and is regarded as the second-oldest mosque in the country. Its name recalls a grove of palm trees that once stood in front of the house, when it was still a dwelling. Only a single palm now remains as a reminder of that grove.

The foundation of the house was laid in 1788 in the Dutch-ruled Cape Colony. At that time the building had a single storey and a palm grove stood in front of it.

After the death of Imam Tuan Guru in 1807, Cape Town's Muslim community divided over the question of his succession. Frans van Bengal and Jan van Bougies, both freed men, lost the vote for the new imam and went on to acquire the property on Long Street. After Jan van Bougies became its sole owner, he served as imam of the newly founded mosque, which came to bear his name.

The house was converted into a mosque between 1811 and 1821, and the palm grove disappeared during this work. Our records give 1820 as the year of construction.