Ostend

Ostend
Oostende (Dutch)
The beach at the pier.
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Location of Ostend in West Flanders
Location of Ostend in West Flanders
Ostend is located in Belgium
Ostend
Location in Belgium
Sovereign state Belgium Belgium
Region  Flemish Region
Community Flanders Flemish Community
Province  West Flanders
Arrondissement Ostend
Coordinates
Area 37.72 km²
Population
– Males
– Females
– Density		 68,931 (2006-01-01)
48.07%
51.93%
1827 inhab./km²
Age distribution
0–19 years
20–64 years
65+ years		 (01/01/2006)
17.83%
56.88%
25.29%
Foreigners 3.95% (01/07/2005)
Unemployment rate 13.23% (1 January 2006)
Mean annual income €12,863/pers. (2003)
Mayor Jean Vandecasteele (SP.A)
Governing parties SP.A, CD&V, VLD
Postal codes 8400
Area codes 059
Website www.oostende.be
St Petrus and St Paulus Church
Beach, seafront and Europacenter building

Ostend (Dutch: Oostende, Dutch pronunciation: [oˑstˈɛndə]) is a Belgian city and municipality located in the Flemish province of West Flanders. It comprises the boroughs of Mariakerke, Stene and Zandvoorde, and the city of Ostend proper – the largest on the Belgian coast.

Contents

History

Origin to Middle Ages

In earlier times, Ostend was nothing more than a small village built on the east-end (Dutch: oost-einde) of an island (originally called Testerep) between the North Sea and a beach lake. Although small, the village rose to the status of "city" around 1265 when the inhabitants were allowed to hold a market and to build a market hall.

The major source of income for the inhabitants was fishing. The North Sea coastline has always been rather unstable and in 1395 the inhabitants decided to build a new Ostend behind large dikes and further away from the always-threatening sea.

15th to 18th century

Ostend on the Ferraris map (around 1775)

The strategic position on the North Sea coast had major advantages for Ostend as a harbour but also proved to be a source of trouble. The city was frequently taken, ravaged, ransacked and destroyed by conquering armies. The most important of these events was the three-year Siege of Ostend between 1601 and 1604, with on both sides combined more than 80,000 dead or wounded. In their fight against the Spanish Empire during the Eighty Years' War, the Dutch rebels, the Geuzen, had occupied the city.

After this era Ostend turned into a harbour of some importance. In 1722 the Dutch again closed off the entrance to the harbour of Antwerp, the Westerschelde. Therefore, Ostend rose in importance because the city provided an alternative exit to the sea. The Southern Netherlands (largely the territory of present Belgium) had become part of the Austrian Empire. The Austrian Emperor Charles VI granted the city the trade monopoly with Africa and the Far-East. The Oostendse Compagnie (the "Ostend trade company") was allowed to found colonies overseas. However, in 1727 the Oostendse Compagnie was forced to stop its activities because of Dutch and British pressure. The Netherlands and Britain would not allow competitors on the international trade level. Both nations regarded international trade as their privilege.

Modern era

In later times the harbour of Ostend continued to expand because the harbour dock, as well as the traffic connections with the hinterland, were improved. In 1838 a railway connection with Brussels was constructed. Ostend became a transit harbour to England in 1846 when the first ferry sailed to Dover. The city hosted some of the sailing events for the 1920 Summer Olympics in neighboring Antwerp. It no longer serves in that role today, except for freight, as an alternative channel crossing point to Calais, France. Very important for the image of the city was the attention it started to receive from the Belgian kings Leopold I and Leopold II. Both liked to spend their vacations in Ostend. Important monuments and villas were built to please the Royal Family. The rest of aristocratic Belgium followed and soon Ostend became known as "The Queen of the Belgian sea-side resorts".

Sights

Ostend beach and the promenade pier - panoramic view.

Economy

Jetairfly has its headquarters in Ostend.[4] TAAG Angola Airlines's Ostend offices are on the grounds of Ostend Airport in Ostend.[5]

Gallery

Flower Clock

Municipal park.

In front of the railway station: The waiting fisherman's wives, bronze (1998) by August Michiels (1922-2003).

The Peperbusse - local name for an old church tower from a burned down church.

Spanish Inn 1729 (Kapucijnenstraat).

The esplanade with the Thermae Palace Hotel, the former royal residence and the casino

Ostend and the museumship, the barquentine Mercator.

Traditional fishers' dress - early 20th century.

Notable citizens of Ostend

References to these notable citizens of Ostend can be found here : Oostendse biografieën (in Dutch)

Sport clubs

See also

External links

References

  1. ↑ Daughters of Darkness at IMDB
  2. ↑ Armaguedon at IMDB
  3. ↑ Le Bal du rat mort
  4. ↑ "TUIfly Academy Brussels." Jetairfly. Retrieved on 23 October 2009.
  5. ↑ "TAAG Offices." TAAG Angola Airlines. Retrieved on 23 January 2010.
Belgian Coast Tram route
Knokke-Heist (Knokke - Heist) - Zeebrugge - Blankenberge - Wenduine - De Haan - Bredene - Ostend - Raversijde - Middelkerke - Westende - Lombardsijde - Nieuwpoort - Oostduinkerke - Koksijde - De Panne
Venues of the 1920 Summer Olympics
Antwerp · Antwerp Zoo · Beerschot Tennis Club · Beverloo Camp · Brussels–Scheldt Maritime Canal · Buiten Y (Amsterdam) · Gardens de la Palace d'Egmont · Hoogboom Military Camp · Jules Ottenstadion (Ghent) · Nachtegalen Park · Olympisch Stadion · Ostend · Palais de Glace d'Anvers · Stade Joseph Marien (Brussels) · Stade Nautique d'Antwerp · Stadion Broodstraat · Vélodrome d'Anvers Zuremborg