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Ostend (Dutch: Oostende) is a seaside city of 70,000 inhabitants in West Flanders in Belgium. Its North Sea beaches have drawn in tourists since the 19th century. Formerly a fashionable outing for royalty and aristocracy, it has since become more democratic and is now densely built up with tall 20th-century blocks of holiday apartments and hotels. Its waterfront promenade features every cliche of a European seaside holiday, including a large musical theatre and casino. Besides being a holiday destination, Ostend is also a sizeable port for both cargo traffic, particularly across the English Channel. Passenger lines towards the UK have ceased.
Ostend originally was a small fishing village on the easternmost edge of an island on the shore of the coast. The original town center is 200 meters away in the sea compared to the present day seashore. After the town got flooded and destroyed several times... Read more
Ostend (Dutch: Oostende) is a seaside city of 70,000 inhabitants in West Flanders in Belgium. Its North Sea beaches have drawn in tourists since the 19th century. Formerly a fashionable outing for royalty and aristocracy, it has since become more democratic and is now densely built up with tall 20th-century blocks of holiday apartments and hotels. Its waterfront promenade features every cliche of a European seaside holiday, including a large musical theatre and casino. Besides being a holiday destination, Ostend is also a sizeable port for both cargo traffic, particularly across the English Channel. Passenger lines towards the UK have ceased.
Ostend originally was a small fishing village on the easternmost edge of an island on the shore of the coast. The original town center is 200 meters away in the sea compared to the present day seashore. After the town got flooded and destroyed several times by severe storms the town was moved onshore to its current location. The mudflat between the island and the coastline gradually sanded and the island became a part of the mainland. Ostend prospered as a market town. In the 17th century, the harbor of Ostend gained importance. Ostend received a lot of attention of Belgian kings Leopold I and Leopold II since they liked to spend their holidays here. They built many important buildings in the city, such as the Hippodrome Wellington horse racing track and the Royal Galleries. Thanks to these investments Ostend started to be called "Queen of the Belgian sea-side resorts". In the 20th century, Ostend hosted all of the sailing events for the 1920 Olympic Games for Antwerp.
Post-war hunger for investments, unfortunately, destroyed many of Ostend's original charm to place high concrete apartment buildings. Some relics of the historical Ostend, however, managed to survive and can still be found.
Tourist office, Monacoplein 2, ☎ +32 59 70 11 99, e-mail: info@visitoostende.be. Daily 9:00 —19:00 in summer, 10:00—18:00 in autumn and spring, 10:00—17:30 in winter. This tourist office will be able to help you with all your questions regarding Ostend. They give brochures and leaflets with information about the city and wider region.
Ostend has a maritime temperate climate, influenced by winds from the North Sea, making summers cooler than inland Europe. 24-hour average temperatures below the freezing point is a rare occurrence. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Ostend has a marine west coast climate, abbreviated "Cfb" on climate maps.
LOCAL TIME
8:50 pm
May 27, 2022
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LOCAL CURRENCY
EUR
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