More Than a Passport: How Afrikaners Tie Identity to Land and Legacy

May 17, 2025
5:15 am

Harvey J

More Than a Passport: How Afrikaners Tie Identity to Land and Legacy

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — In an age of increasing global migration, political volatility, and economic upheaval, the decision to stay or go is often weighed in practical terms.

But for South Africa’s Afrikaner community—descendants of Dutch, French, and German settlers who have lived in Southern Africa for centuries—the choice to remain rooted is rarely about finances or safety alone. It is a question of identity.

For many Afrikaners, the land is not just where they live. It is who they are. Farms passed down for generations, churches established in isolated towns, and family cemeteries resting in sun-baked fields are not abstractions.

They are the fabric of a legacy that ties culture, language, and memory together with a sense of sacred permanence.

This press release explores the deeply emotional and historical bond between Afrikaners and their home, South African soil. It also addresses the growing trend among some to seek second citizenships—not to replace this identity but to protect it—and how Amicus International Consulting provides legal and ethical global mobility solutions that honour tradition while securing the future.

A Legacy Rooted in Land

Afrikaners are often stereotyped as conservative, rural, and resistant to change. But beneath the cliché lies a complex cultural tapestry defined by history, struggle, and resilience. Since the first Dutch settlers arrived at the Cape in 1652, Afrikaners have survived colonization, war, international isolation, and seismic political transformation.

What has remained constant is the bond with the land.

“Every fence post, every tree, every rock tells a story,” said a farmer in the Northern Cape. “My great-grandfather planted these vineyards. My father dug these irrigation channels by hand. Leaving this farm would be like erasing my family.”

Why a Passport Alone Isn’t Enough

In recent years, as South Africa’s economy falters and political rhetoric intensifies, thousands of white South Africans—many of them Afrikaners—have explored emigration or second citizenship options. However, for many, a passport does not solve the core issue. Identity is not something that fits in a document sleeve.

“A passport is a tool. It’s not a soul,” said a Johannesburg-based school principal. “We don’t want to be citizens of the world just for safety. We want to be part of South Africa’s future, because it’s our past, too.”

This emotional allegiance often complicates decisions about leaving. For those with ancestral farms or deep-rooted community ties, relocating, especially to a country where Afrikaans is not spoken or cultural familiarity is absent, can feel like exile.

Case Study 1: The Land They Wouldn’t Leave

The Van der Merwe family, whose farm lies outside Worcester in the Western Cape, faced repeated threats of expropriation and break-ins during the last decade. Yet they chose to stay, reinforcing security, installing cameras, and expanding their agricultural output. They also applied for and received Grenadian citizenship through investment with the help of Amicus International Consulting.

“We didn’t get second passports to run,” said Mrs. Van der Merwe. “We got them so that if the worst ever came, we’d have somewhere to go. But this is our home. This is where our history is buried.”

The family continues to grow grapes and operate their vineyard, using international contacts gained through their Grenadian citizenship to expand export contracts into Europe and Asia.

The Cultural Anchors of Afrikaner Identity

Afrikaner culture is deeply tied to language (Afrikaans), faith (predominantly Protestant denominations), family hierarchy, and rural self-sufficiency. While large Afrikaner communities exist in cities such as Pretoria and Bloemfontein, it is the countryside where identity tends to be most deeply preserved.

Language: Over 6 million people speak Afrikaans, which remains a primary language in many towns, churches, and schools.
Faith: The Dutch Reformed Church remains a powerful cultural and spiritual force.
History: The trauma of the Anglo-Boer War, apartheid, and post-apartheid transformation has shaped a community fiercely protective of its autonomy.

For many, leaving the land is synonymous with cultural amputation.

Why Global Citizenship Still Matters

While emotional loyalty remains strong, practical realities cannot be ignored. Rising crime, uncertain land reform policies, collapsing public infrastructure, and economic contraction have led many Afrikaners to pursue backup plans.

Second citizenships, foreign residency, and offshore asset protection are increasingly seen not as acts of disloyalty, but of stewardship—ways to protect what has been built over generations.

“Having a second passport is like having fire insurance,” said a Pretoria-based lawyer. “You pray you’ll never need it. But you sleep better knowing it’s there.”

Amicus International Consulting: Protecting Legacies Without Erasing Them

Amicus International Consulting has emerged as a trusted partner for Afrikaner families who want to remain in South Africa but seek secure, lawful alternatives for their children, finances, and long-term mobility.

“Our mission is not to uproot people,” said an Amicus spokesperson. “It’s to help them create options. For Afrikaners, we understand the emotional cost of emigration. That’s why we provide services that preserve identity while expanding opportunity.”

Amicus provides:

European citizenship via ancestry (Dutch, German, French)
Caribbean citizenship-by-investment for visa-free travel
Offshore asset trusts to secure generational wealth
Residency options in Portugal, Spain, and Panama
Legal identity change for political, economic, or domestic threat cases

Case Study 2: Farming Roots, Global Branches

The Botha family from Free State province maintains a fourth-generation wheat farm. Concerned about future land policy and economic instability, they obtained St. Lucian citizenship through Amicus. Their children are now studying in the United Kingdom, while the family farm remains operational.

“We didn’t leave,” said Mr. Botha. “We diversified. The land is still ours. Our children may come back to it. But now they have a choice.”

This hybrid approach—staying anchored in South Africa while establishing international access—is becoming increasingly common among Afrikaner families who want to honour their legacy while protecting their lineage.

The Next Generation: Torn Between Worlds

While older generations often express a visceral attachment to the land, younger Afrikaners face a more globalized, hybrid identity. Many are fluent in English and Afrikaans, educated abroad, and immersed in international media and markets.

Yet even they often feel the pull of the past.

“My grandfather’s stories are in this soil,” said a 26-year-old Stellenbosch graduate now working in Amsterdam. “I’m here because I want a future. But my heart is still there.”

This tension between opportunity abroad and identity at home is fueling interest in dual citizenship, international property, and flexible residency.

A Legacy Worth Safeguarding

The Afrikaner struggle is not unique. Diasporas around the world have long wrestled with balancing tradition and transition. But in South Africa, where history is especially fraught and politics often racialized, the question takes on added weight.

For Afrikaners, safeguarding their legacy means preserving family, land, language, and faith—even if that means expanding their geographic footprint.

“Our clients want to remain proud South Africans,” said an Amicus advisor. “We simply help ensure that they do so with dignity, security, and freedom.”

Conclusion: Not Leaving—Leading With Preparedness

For many Afrikaners, the land they till, the homes they build, and the graves they visit form a chain of history they are not prepared to sever. A second passport may give them global rights, but never replace their sense of home.

Still, as history has shown, even the most rooted cultures must adapt. Those who prepare are not abandoning their legacy in a world of shifting borders and uncertain futures. They are protecting it.

The legal, ethical, and culturally sensitive support of Amicus International Consulting, South Africa’s Afrikaner families, is finding ways to honour their past while securing their future.

About Amicus International Consulting

Amicus International Consulting is a global leader in second citizenship acquisition, legal identity change, and offshore financial planning. With clients in over 60 countries, Amicus helps individuals legally and confidentially navigate uncertain political, economic, or personal circumstances.

Amicus offers tailored services including: