Learn Hardcore Afrikaans: In die geheime afdeling versamel hulle skaars voorwerpe van ou skepe. - In the secret section they collect rare objects from old ships.

In Afrikaans, an adjective preceding a noun with a definite article (die, demonstratives or possessives) takes an –e ending. Since afdeling is definite here (die afdeling), geheim becomes geheime.

Why is the verb versamel placed before the subject hulle?

Afrikaans main clauses follow the Verb-Second (V2) rule. When you start with an adverbial phrase (In die geheime afdeling), the finite verb (versamel) must occupy the second slot, and the subject (hulle) comes third.

Why doesn’t skaars get an -e in skaars voorwerpe?

Adjectives only add –e when the noun is definite (with die, demonstratives, possessives). Here voorwerpe (objects) is indefinite, so skaars stays in its base form.

What does van express in van ou skepe—“of” or “from”?

The preposition van can mean both “of” (possession) and “from” (origin). In van ou skepe, it means “from old ships” (i.e. source/origin), not “of old ships” in a possessive sense.

How is the plural voorwerpe formed from voorwerp?

Many two-syllable nouns form the plural by adding –e. Thus voorwerp (“object”) becomes voorwerpe. There’s no additional vowel change in this case.

Can I start the sentence with Hulle instead of In die geheime afdeling?

Yes. You’d then use:
Hulle versamel skaars voorwerpe van ou skepe in die geheime afdeling.
Here hulle is first, versamel remains the second element (V2), and the location phrase moves to the end.

What exactly does afdeling mean? Could I use another word?

Afdeling means “section” or “department.” In contexts like museums or libraries it’s very common. You could also say departement, but that often implies a larger administrative unit (e.g. a government department).