OSTEND, town, province of West Flanders, Belgium. Pop. (193o) 46,952. It is the most fashionable seaside resort and the third port of the kingdom. In the middle ages it was strongly fortified and underwent several sieges; notably in 16o1—o4, when it only surrendered by order of the states to Spinola. The crea tion in of the Compagnie de Commerce des Indes seemed to assure a hopeful future to the port of Ostend. But the suc cess obtained caused the envy of neighboring nations, who forced Emperor Charles VI. to revoke the grant made. Under Joseph II. Ostend enjoyed another period of commercial pros perity. In the last 3o years a new town has been created. The digue or parade, constructed of solid granite, extends for over 3 m. along the shore in a southerly direction from the long jetty which protects the entrance to the port. A casino and the royal chalet are prominent on the sea front. In the rear of the town is a fine park to which a race-course has been added. The modern docks accommodate ships of large tonnage. Apart from these docks Ostend has a very considerable passenger and pro vision traffic with England, and is the headquarters of the Bel gian fishing fleet, estimated to employ 400 boats and 1,600 men and boys. Ostend supplies sea-fish and is renowned for its oyster
and lobster beds. It has a school of navigation and a fishery training school. There is a daily service from Ostend to Tilbury carrying food produce for England. Ostend is in direct railway communication with Brussels, Cologne and Berlin. It is also the starting point of several light railways along the coast and to the southern towns of Flanders.