Ostend: Guide, Hotels, Map & Photos
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EUR 45 - 95 Hotel Viking
 Hotel Viking Ostend ** is situated in the centre of the town, near the coast, only 100 metres from the beach.The Hotel Viking has 23 rooms.… MoreEUR 59 - 229 Hotel-Resto Polaris
 This hotel, which was fully renovated in 2009, has a lounge bar and buffet restaurant. It offers convenient accommodation at competitive rates only 20… MoreEUR 88 - 135 Infinity I, 0405
 Situated near to the beach and entertainment district of the city, this private apartment overlooks the Wellington Racetrack and Oostende Golf Course.… MoreEUR 95 - 95 Luxe Appartement Oostende
 Luxe Appartement Oostende offers a spectacular view on Ostend’s harbor. There is a spacious terrace to enjoy the sun. The beach and shops are within… MoreEUR 45 - 105 Hotel Thevenet
 Hotel Thevenet is situated in a peaceful location in an old mansion. Enjoy the ideal location near the beach and shopping centre.
The hotel rooms are… MoreEUR 37 - 139 Hotel Sunlight
 This renovated hotel is located a 2-minute walk from the beach of Oostende and surrounded by bars, restaurants and dance halls.
The non-smoking rooms… MoreEUR 70 - 140 Hotel Pacific
 A quiet oasis in a fascinating town by the sea!
A pleasant stroll from the bustling streets and the sparkling nightlife of Ostend, yet only 50 yards f… MoreEUR 86 - 151 Hotel Prado
 Hotel Prado is ideally located near the city centre. The sea promenade and the beach, the casino, the shopping centre and the city park are situated a… MoreEUR 55 - 160 Hotel Princess
 Hotel Princess is a very cozy family hotel where you will always be
greeted warmly. The hotel is very well situated in the centre near the marina and … MoreEUR 40 - 95 Hotel Serge
 Familyhotel, quiet and central located. Close to the beach, casino and Leopoldpark with his famous flowerwatch. Hotel Serge offers you a pleasant stay… MoreEUR 64 - 229 Mondo Hotel
 The completely renovated Mondo Hotel is situated within just 150 meters from the beach and near the boulevard, casino, museums, the city park, fishing… MoreEUR 58 - 180 Ostend Hotel
 Looking for a trend-setting hotel at the beachside? Business or pleasure, into sports or the lazy type, a relaxing break or discovering the night life… MoreEUR 95 - 95 Top Appartement Oostende
 Top apartment for 4 persons with a fabulous sea view at the Little Beach in Ostend. The apartment is comfortably furnished according to modern standar… MoreEUR 34 - 152 Vakantiecentrum Neutralia
 This homely family hotel offers a trendy brasserie, many free children’s facilities and an excellent location, just a few metres from the beach and … MoreEUR 100 - 240 Villa Louise Marie
 Villa Marie Louise is a typical dunes villa, built in the thirties, now totally renovated respecting its original architecture.
The villa has also a … MoreEUR 100 - 300 Windsor Castle Apartment
 Windsor Castle features bright décor with original features and is less than 100 metres from the Sint Petrus and Paulus Cathedral in Oostende city ce… MoreEUR 95 - 315 Thermae Palace
 Thermae Palace offers rooms in an impressive building with free Wi-Fi overlooking the beach, 2 km from Oostende Railway Station. This unique hotel ben… MoreEUR 70 - 164 Ter Streep
 Situated in the heart of Ostend, along the green Leopold II Avenue,
within walking distance to the beach, the casino, the shopping centre,
the park an… MoreEUR 50 - 120 Porto Bello Bed & Breakfast
 Stay at this romantic and tasteful B&B and enjoy its excellent location near the harbour and the beach of Ostend.
Just a few metres from the sea, the… MoreEUR 54 - 200 Ramada Ostend
 This charming hotel provides tasteful rooms, a stylish bar and cosy restaurant. Guests can benefit from free entrance to the Ostend Casino and free ac… MoreEUR 70 - 160 Royal Astor
 Royal Astor is located 50 meters from the beach of Ostend and a 3-minute walk from the main shopping streets Kapellestraat and Adolf Buylstraat. There… MoreEUR 61 - 252 Royal Astrid
 The 3-star Hotel Royal Astrid is situated 50 metres from Ostende´s beautiful sandy beach.
After a warm welcome at reception, available 24 hour… MoreEUR 55 - 100 Hotel New Astoria
 Located in a characteristic Art Deco building, this family hotel offers simple, neat guest rooms, a cosy restaurant and a classic cocktail bar.
The N… MoreEUR 55 - 160 Hotel Melinda
 The Melinda Hotel is situated in Oostende, a 2-minute drive from the A10 motorway. The hotel offers free Wi-Fi access.
Hotel Melinda has rooms with a… MoreEUR 100 - 120 Espace Divin B&B
 Espace Divin B&B is situated in the heart of Oostende, only 100 meters from the beach and the casino. Free Wi-Fi is available.
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Ostend: Guide
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Ostend (French & Belgian Municipalities in Belgium|municipality located in the Flemish Region|Flemish Provinces of Belgium|province of West Flanders. It comprises the villages of Mariakerke, Stene and Zandvoorde, and the city of Ostend proper – the largest at the Belgian coast.
History
Origin to Middle Ages
In earlier times, Ostend was nothing more than a small village built on the east-end (Dutch language|Dutch: oost-einde) of an island (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
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 Netherlands|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, Holy Roman 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.
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 of Belgium|Leopold I and Leopold II of Belgium|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
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.
Famous citizens of Ostend
Lilian Baels, princess
K.V. Oostende (football (soccer)|football)
- Information available in Dutch language|Dutch and limited information available in French language|French, English language|English and German language|German.
This "Travel Guide" section is drawn from the Wikipedia article "Ostend". We hope you will edit and improve it. It is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.
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
Constant Permeke, expressionist painter
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
Luc Zeebroek, aka Kamagurka, cartoonist, singer and performer Sport clubs
Basketball Club Oostende (basketball)External links
- Non-Official, although it offers lots of useful information. Cover your eyes - it's blue and orange. Information available in French, English and German.
- Site about the Ostend dialect and culture with Ostend grammatical rules. (mainly in Dutch (nl) and Ostend dialect).
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- Official website of the international airport of Ostend.
- Website of one of the local parks.