OSTEND (Flemish and

See also:

• FRENCH
• FRENCH, DANIEL CHESTER (1850– )
• FRENCH, NICHOLAS (1604-1678)

French Ostende)  , a town of Belgium in the province of West Flanders . Pop . (1904) 41,181 . It is the most fashionable seaside resort and the second port of the kingdom . Situated on the North Sea it forms almost the central point on the 42 M. of sea-coast that belong to Belgium . In the middle ages it was strongly fortified and underwent several sieges; the most notable was that of 1601–1604, when it only surrendered by order of the states to Spinola . In 1865 the last vestiges of its ramparts were removed, and since that date, but more especially since 1898, a new town has been created . The digue or parade, constructed of solid granite, extends for over 2 M. along the shore in a southerly direction from the long jetty which protects the entrance to the port . A fine casino and the royal chalet are prominent objects along the sea front, and the sea-bathing is unsurpassed . In the rear of the town is a fine park to which a race-course has been added . Extensive works were begun in 1900 for the purpose of carrying the harbour back 2 m., and a series of large docks were excavated and extensive quays constructed . The docks accommodate ships of large tonnage .

Apart from these docks

Ostend has a very considerable passenger and provision traffic with England, and is the head-quarters of the Belgian fishing fleet, estimated to employ 400 boats and 1600 men and boys . 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 .