Vanrhynsdorp[1][2] (also written Van Rhynsdorp; Afrikaans pronunciation: [fan 'rəinzdɔrp]) is a town located in the West Coast District Municipality of the Western Cape province in South Africa.

[4] Vanrhynsdorp was founded as Trutro ("TroeTroe") after the area was first explored by Europeans in 1661 by Pieter van Meerhoff.

[5] The Troe-Troe Zending ("Mission") dates to the 1751 completion of the Trutro Homestead, which still stands in Vanrhynsdorp today.

[6] The mountains around the town were populated by the San people, a group of late stone age hunter-gatherers.

[5] The Steenkampskraal mine and rare earth mineral deposit is located in Namaqualand, approximately 70 kilometres (43 mi) to the northeast of the town center.