Ostend
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 OstendOostende (Dutch) |
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| Geography | ||
| Country |  Belgium |
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| Region |  Flemish Region |
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| Community | Flemish Community |
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| Province |  West Flanders |
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| Arrondissement | Ostend | |
| Coordinates | ||
| Area | 37.72 km² | |
| Population (Source: NIS) | ||
| Population – Males – Females - Density |
68,931 (01/01/2006) 48.07% 51.93% 1827 inhab./km² |
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| Age distribution 0–19 years 20–64 years 65+ years |
(01/01/2006) 17.83% 56.88% 25.29% |
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| Foreigners | 3.95% (01/07/2005) | |
| Economy | ||
| Unemployment rate | 13.23% (01/01/2006) | |
| Mean annual income | 12,863 €/pers. (2003) | |
| Government | ||
| Mayor | Jean Vandecasteele (SP.A) | |
| Governing parties | SP.A, CD&V, VLD | |
| Other information | ||
| Postal codes | 8400 | |
| Area codes | 059 | |
| Web address | www.oostende.be | |
Ostend (Dutch: Oostende) is a Belgian 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 at the Belgian coast.
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[edit] History
[edit] 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.
[edit] 15th to 18th century
The strategic position on the North Sea coast had major advantages for Ostend as a harbor but also proved to be a source of trouble. The city was frequently taken, destroyed and rampaged 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. After their independence from the Spanish Empire, the Dutch had persevered (Protestant Dutch freedomfighters).
After this era Ostend turned into a harbour of some importance. In 1722 the Dutch closed off the entrance to the harbour of Antwerp. Therefore, Ostend rose in importance because the city provided an alternative entrance to the sea. The Southern Netherlands (now 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 society) 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.
[edit] Modern era
In later times the harbour of Ostend continued to expand because the harbor 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. 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". Nowadays tourists and locals have discovered the joys of windsurfing and kite surfing. With wind never in short supply on the Belgian coast these new to Belgium sports have taken a foothold in Oostende and are practised almost year round (wetsuit mandatory).
[edit] Music Scene
Since the late eighties and up untill today Oostende has had an artistic revolution. Oostende was on the forefront in bringing underground electronic music to the masses. A plethora of young enraged artists started organizing raves and introduced freedom of the mind and the body to the creaking establishment.Since Oostende had very little to offer to the disefranchised youth (with unemployment and suicide rates at an all time high) underground pioneers like A-Bat, Crazy Ray dj Herbal J decided to take matters in their own hands and started the legendary Raving Zone parties. The impact on the town was overwhelming and gave it a new sense of identity. Whereas before it was just the rundown town by the sea where people go to retire and die, now its a go to place for cutting electronic music and arts. The people in Oostende are some of the greatest people you'll ever meet, so be shure to bring good vibes and visit the local bars where you will need phrases like " u pientje olsjeblief" (a beer please) and "k'zien vulle bak de muule in" (I am completely off my rocker). Partying is something the Pirate People from the North Sea excel at and they do it with conviction. This interest in music is pervasive amongst youngsters and liberated adults and is not limited to electronic music. It is not uncommon to find 500+ cd's stacked against the wall when visiting an "Ostendenoare" (Oostends citizen). Therefore bands are constantly formed and reformed and this mixed with the cafe and drug culture creates some very interesting genres and bands.Be sure to check them out at the local pubs.
[edit] Sights
- Interesting locations are the Casino and Fort Napoleon.
- Ostend is also famous for its sea-side esplanade, pier, and fine-sand beaches.
- The James Ensor museum can be visited in the house where the artist lived from 1917 until 1949.
- The Mercator, an educational tall ship of the Belgian merchant fleet, has been converted into a maritime museum.
- Hippodrome Wellington, horse racing venue
- For a more modern slant on things visit the exquisite PMMK (Provinciaal Museum voor de Moderne Kunst-Aan-Zee)where you can admire works of the Revolutionary post-war Belgian COBRA movement amongst others.(visit the link at the bottom for a more detailed view)
[edit] Famous citizens of Ostend
- Lilian Baels, princess
- Auguste Marie Francois Beernaert, Prime Minister of Belgium and Nobel Peace Prize recipient
- Alfred Belpaire, locomotive engineer
- Jean-Marie Dedecker, politician and judo-coach
- Cesar De Paepe, syndicalist
- James Ensor, painter
- Marvin Gaye, singer
- Arno Hintjens, lead-singer of TC Matic
- Stefaan Maene, backstroke swimmer
- René Magritte, surrealist painter
- Marie-José of Belgium, princess, then last queen of Italy
- August Michiels, sculpturer, painter, engraver [1]
- Constant Permeke, expressionist painter
- Raoul Servais, filmmaker
- Leon Spilliaert, painter
- Henri Storck, author, film-maker, and maker of documentaries
- Robert Triffin, economist
- Johan Vande Lanotte, politician
- Robert Van De Walle, judoka
- Bart van den Bossche, singer, actor, and radio/tv presenter
- Peter Van Heirseele, aka Herr Seele, cartoonist (Cowboy Henk), painter and performer [2]
- Luc Zeebroek, aka Kamagurka, cartoonist, singer and performer [3]
[edit] Sport clubs
- K.V. Oostende (football)
- Basketball Club Oostende (basketball)
[edit] External links
- [4] - unique modern arts museum PMMK
- [5] - electronic music portal
- Official website - Information available in Dutch and limited information available in French, English and German.
- Oostende.net - Non-Official, although it offers lots of useful information. Cover your eyes - it's blue and orange. Information available in French, English and German.
- Oostendse verhalen- Site about the Ostend dialect and culture with Ostend grammatical rules. (mainly in Dutch (nl) and Ostend dialect).
- Toerisme Oostende - English edition - extensive.
- Free photos of Ostend
- Ostend Airport - Official website of the international airport of Ostend.
- Koninginnehof - Website of one of the local parks.
| Belgian coast tram route | |
|---|---|
| Knokke-Heist - Zeebrugge - Blankenberge - De Haan - Bredene - Ostend - Raversijde - Middelkerke - Westende - Lombardsijde - Nieuwpoort - Oostduinkerke - Koksijde - De Panne | |
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Municipalities in the Province of West Flanders, Flanders, Belgium |
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|---|---|---|
| Bruges: Beernem | Blankenberge | Bruges/Brugge | Damme | Jabbeke | Knokke-Heist | Oostkamp | Torhout | Zedelgem | Zuienkerke | ||
| Diksmuide: Diksmuide | Houthulst | Koekelare | Kortemark | Lo-Reninge | ||
| Kortrijk: Anzegem | Avelgem | Deerlijk | Harelbeke | Kortrijk/Courtrai | Kuurne | Lendelede | Menen | Spiere-Helkijn | Waregem | Wevelgem | Zwevegem | ||
| Ostend: Bredene | De Haan | Gistel | Ichtegem | Middelkerke | Oostende/Ostend | Oudenburg | ||
| Roeselare: Hooglede | Ingelmunster | Izegem | Ledegem | Lichtervelde | Moorslede | Roeselare | Staden | ||
| Tielt: Ardooie | Dentergem | Meulebeke | Oostrozebeke | Pittem | Ruiselede | Tielt | Wielsbeke | Wingene | ||
| Veurne: Alveringem | De Panne | Koksijde | Nieuwpoort | Veurne | ||
| Ypres: Heuvelland | Ieper/Ypres | Langemark-Poelkapelle | Mesen | Poperinge | Vleteren | Wervik | Zonnebeke | ||
