Ostend

Ostend, a Belgian town of west Flanders, is the chief Belgian port of entry for passenger traffic from Dover to and through Belgium, and is also very important as a bathing-place and summer resort. The coast and neighbourhood are sandy, and the long sea-wall is utilised as a promenade. Among the chief buildings are the HStel de Ville, the King's Pavilion, and the Kursaal. Fishing for cod and herring is carried on, and there is a noted park of oysters, which are brought from the English coast to be here fattened. The fortifications, which were formed by the Prince of Orange in 1585, have given place to boulevards. In 1601-4, Ostend underwent a siege during the struggle with Spain.