The
strategic position on the North Sea coast had major advantages for
Oostende as a harbour but also proved to be a source of trouble. The city
was frequently taken, destroyed and rampaged by conquering armies.
After their independence from the Spanish Empire, the Dutch had preserved
some strongholds in the Southern Netherlands, such as the cities of
Nieuwpoort and Oostende. Between 1601 and 1604 the Spanish army succeeded
in taking Oostende from the 'Geuzen. In 1722 the Dutch closed off the
entrance to the harbour of Antwerp. Therefore, Oostende rose in importance
because the city provided an alternative entrance to the sea. The Southern
Netherlands (now Belgium) had became part of the Austrian Empire. The
Austrian Emperor Charles VI granted the city the trade monopoly with
Africa and the Far-East. In 1727 the 'Oostendse Compagnie' was forced to
stop its activities
because of Dutch and British pressure. Holland and Britain would not allow
competitors on the international trade level. But nations regarded
international trade as their privilege. In 1838 a railway connection with
Brussels was constructed. Oostende became a transit harbour to England in
1846 when the first Ferryboat sailed to Dover. Very important for the
image of the city was the attention it started to receive from the Belgian
Kings Leopold I and Leopold II. Both liked to spent their vacations
in Oostende. Important monuments and villas were built to please the Royal
Family. The rest of aristocratic Belgium followed and soon Oostende became
known as "The Queen of the Belgian sea-side resorts" .
The
strategic position on the North Sea coast had major advantages for
Oostende as a harbour but also proved to be a source of trouble. The city
was frequently taken, destroyed and rampaged by conquering armies.
After their independence from the Spanish Empire, the Dutch had preserved
some strongholds in the Southern Netherlands, such as the cities of
Nieuwpoort and Oostende. Between 1601 and 1604 the Spanish army succeeded
in taking Oostende from the 'Geuzen. In 1722 the Dutch closed off the
entrance to the harbour of Antwerp. Therefore, Oostende rose in importance
because the city provided an alternative entrance to the sea. The Southern
Netherlands (now Belgium) had became part of the Austrian Empire. The
Austrian Emperor Charles VI granted the city the trade monopoly with
Africa and the Far-East. In 1727 the 'Oostendse Compagnie' was forced to
stop its 
activities
because of Dutch and British pressure. Holland and Britain would not allow
competitors on the international trade level. But nations regarded
international trade as their privilege. In 1838 a railway connection with
Brussels was constructed. Oostende became a transit harbour to England in
1846 when the first Ferryboat sailed to Dover. Very important for the
image of the city was the attention it started to receive from the Belgian
Kings Leopold I and Leopold II. Both liked to spent their vacations
in Oostende. Important monuments and villas were built to please the Royal
Family. The rest of aristocratic Belgium followed and soon Oostende became
known as "The Queen of the Belgian sea-side resorts" .
