Port of Ostend
Encyclopedia
The port of Ostend
(Dutch: Oostende) is situated in Ostend
, West Flanders (Belgium
). The port is mainly known as a ferry
port. Freight, and recently also passenger transport between Ostend and Ramsgate
is provided by Transeuropa Ferries
. The port also services freight transport between Ostend and both Ipswich
and Killingholme
.
the port was founded in 1584 when the sand dunes were pushed back to create the beginnings of the modern basin.
Twenty years later Ostend had been transformed from a sleepy fishing village into a fortified, moated and important Dutch port.
After the Siege of Ostend
(1601-1604) the port was not rebuilt.
It became a haven for privateers until the eighteenth century. Charles VI
briefly granted it a license to trade with the far east as the Oostendsche Companie
. This enriched the port and set it up again. During the American Revolution
Ostend became a free port. The docks were redeveloped under Dutch rule (1815 - 1830). Ferry services to Dover
began in 1846, with Ostend being the hub for the Regie voor Maritiem Transport
until 1997.
Again at the end of the 19th century the port was redeveloped to cope with the larger ships of the period. The City Council, unable to raise sufficient funds for the redevelopment handed control and responsibility for the port over to the Belgian government.
The port was damaged in both World Wars (see First
and Second Ostend Raid
) but soon recovered.
Ostend
Ostend is a Belgian city and municipality located in the Flemish province of West Flanders. It comprises the boroughs of Mariakerke , Stene and Zandvoorde, and the city of Ostend proper – the largest on the Belgian coast....
(Dutch: Oostende) is situated in Ostend
Ostend
Ostend is a Belgian city and municipality located in the Flemish province of West Flanders. It comprises the boroughs of Mariakerke , Stene and Zandvoorde, and the city of Ostend proper – the largest on the Belgian coast....
, West Flanders (Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
). The port is mainly known as a ferry
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
port. Freight, and recently also passenger transport between Ostend and Ramsgate
Ramsgate
Ramsgate is a seaside town in the district of Thanet in east Kent, England. It was one of the great English seaside towns of the 19th century and is a member of the ancient confederation of Cinque Ports. It has a population of around 40,000. Ramsgate's main attraction is its coastline and its main...
is provided by Transeuropa Ferries
Transeuropa Ferries
TransEuropa Ferries operates a ferry service between Ramsgate, Kent, UK and Ostend, West Flanders, Belgium. TransEuropa Ferries n.v. is the cross channel satellite arm of TransEuropa Shipping Lines d.o.o. of Slovenia....
. The port also services freight transport between Ostend and both Ipswich
Ipswich
Ipswich is a large town and a non-metropolitan district. It is the county town of Suffolk, England. Ipswich is located on the estuary of the River Orwell...
and Killingholme
Killingholme
Killingholme is an area of Lincolnshire, comprising the villages of North Killingholme and South Killingholme. It is the site of two oil refineries, the Humber Refinery and Lindsey Oil Refinery, and an liquid petroleum gas storage facility .It is also a fast expanding port, handling RORO ferries...
.
History
As part of the ancient city of OstendOstend
Ostend is a Belgian city and municipality located in the Flemish province of West Flanders. It comprises the boroughs of Mariakerke , Stene and Zandvoorde, and the city of Ostend proper – the largest on the Belgian coast....
the port was founded in 1584 when the sand dunes were pushed back to create the beginnings of the modern basin.
Twenty years later Ostend had been transformed from a sleepy fishing village into a fortified, moated and important Dutch port.
After the Siege of Ostend
Siege of Ostend
The Siege of Ostend was a three-year siege of the city of Ostend during the Eighty Years' War and one of the longest sieges in history. It is remembered as the bloodiest battle of the war, and culminated in a Spanish victory...
(1601-1604) the port was not rebuilt.
It became a haven for privateers until the eighteenth century. Charles VI
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles VI was the penultimate Habsburg sovereign of the Habsburg Empire. He succeeded his elder brother, Joseph I, as Holy Roman Emperor, King of Bohemia , Hungary and Croatia , Archduke of Austria, etc., in 1711...
briefly granted it a license to trade with the far east as the Oostendsche Companie
Ostend Company
The Imperial Ostend Company was an Austrian private trading company established in 1717 to trade with the East and West Indies. For a few years it provided strong competition to the traditional colonial trading companies...
. This enriched the port and set it up again. During the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
Ostend became a free port. The docks were redeveloped under Dutch rule (1815 - 1830). Ferry services to Dover
Dover
Dover is a town and major ferry port in the home county of Kent, in South East England. It faces France across the narrowest part of the English Channel, and lies south-east of Canterbury; east of Kent's administrative capital Maidstone; and north-east along the coastline from Dungeness and Hastings...
began in 1846, with Ostend being the hub for the Regie voor Maritiem Transport
Regie voor Maritiem Transport
Regie voor Maritiem Transport was the Belgian state-owned ferry service and operated ferries on the Ostend-Dover route under the name Oostende Lines. For the last few years until its demise in February 1997, the ferries from Ostend went to Ramsgate instead of Dover, in partnership with Sally Line...
until 1997.
Again at the end of the 19th century the port was redeveloped to cope with the larger ships of the period. The City Council, unable to raise sufficient funds for the redevelopment handed control and responsibility for the port over to the Belgian government.
The port was damaged in both World Wars (see First
First Ostend Raid
The First Ostend Raid was the first of two attacks by the Royal Navy on the German-held port of Ostend during the late spring of 1918 during the First World War...
and Second Ostend Raid
Second Ostend Raid
The Second Ostend Raid was the latter of two failed attempts made during the spring of 1918 by the United Kingdom's Royal Navy to block the channels accessing the Belgian port of Ostend as a part of their conflict with the German Empire during World War I...
) but soon recovered.