Professor Dirk Bax, LITT. DOCTS. (Amsterdam), LITT. D (Nijmegen), CORR, KON, NED. ACAD was born in Holland in 1906. He studied at the University of Amsterdam and obtained his doctor's degree at the University of Nymegen. He became head of the Department of Netherlands Cultural History at U.C.T. in 1950. He had published a number of books on Dutch Culture, and received medals of honour from the Suid-Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns, and the Netherlands-South African Society. In 1967 he was awarded the Cape Tercentenary Foundation's award for his contribution to the conservation of the cultural heritage of the Cape. In 1969 he received the Order of "Officer in de Orde van Oranje-Nassau" for outstanding service in the promotion of Netherlands culture.

Professor Bax was mainly responsible for the rebuilding of Saasveld, the original home of the Baron van Rheede van Oudtshoorn, in Kloof Street. The house was moved and became a cultural landmark of the Cape at Franschhoek.

He was responsible for the publication of the new Michaelis Collection catalogue, the first really scientific and descriptive treatment of this collection.

Professor Bax died on 24 December 1976, at the age of 70.