Ostend, << o STEHND >> (pop. 70,460), is a Belgian city on the North Sea, about 77 miles (124 kilometers) northwest of Brussels. Ostend lies in the Dutch-speaking region of Belgium. Its name in Dutch is Oostende. It is an important Belgian port. Ostend conducts an export-import business with many countries. The city serves as the harbor for cross-channel boats from Dover, England. Ostend fishing crews catch cod and herring. Oysters are cultivated offshore. Ostend is a fashionable summer resort. Visitors enjoy its sea walk and listen to concerts in a building called the Kursaal.
Dutch, Spanish, and French troops have fought many battles for Ostend because of its value as a port. In 1865, its fortifications were destroyed by the Belgian government, and Ostend became important for shipping. Ostend was damaged in World War I (1914-1918) and again in World War II (1939-1945).
