Cape Town (Cape Town or Kaapstad) is the oldest city in South Africa. It was founded in 1652 by a Dutch expedition under the command of Jan Van Riebeeck. The fleet, consisting of 5 ships, had been sent by the powerful Dutch East India Company (VOC) in order to found a permanent settlement near the Cape of Good Hope. The purpose of the settlement was to be able to supply ships along the route from Europe to the East.