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Originally a smaller fishing village, the city of Oostende received its city charter in the 13th century and now includes a population of 91,000 consumers, the biggest population on the Belgian coast. Set half way along the 40 mile Belgian coastline, it became trendy as a resort within the 19th century, when Kings Leopold I and II spent their summers there. Throughout Globe War II the city was badly bombed.The city is protected from the North Sea by a series of sizeable dikes constructed inside the late 14th century. In spite of this, the city quite often fell victim to invading armies. Its value as a harbour rose inside the 18th and 19th centuries, along with a railway link to Brussels was built in 1838. In 1846 it became a transit harbour to England, sending its 1st ferry boat to Dover. These days, a huge selection of passengers travel between Oostende and England within a space of just two hours, which tends to make it a superb weekend resort for British travellers.Named &apos;The Queen of the Belgian sea-side Resorts, Oostende boasts a lengthy and sandy beach and can be a common beach resort for locals at the same time as guests to Belgium, most of whom come to surf and sail. The old town and fishing harbour are widely used attractions, and Oostende has substantially to provide in the way of buying, consuming and entertainment.Locations of interest:The twin-towered church of St Peter &amp;amp; Saint Paul, close to the railway station, is a neo-gothic building constructed of sandstone in 1904-5. It houses the mausoleum of Queen Louise-Marie, Belgium&apos;s first Queen, who died in 1850 in Oostende.The &apos;Fort Napoleon&apos;, north of the city centre, is the only Napoleonic fortress still intact in the whole of Europe. Constructed by Napoleon for the duration of the French occupation in 1810 and completed in 1812, it housed 260 soldiers. In the Second World War it was used as a German barracks.Amongst Oostende and Middelkerke, near the beach, lies a significant group of dunes known as the &apos;Raversijde Domain&apos;, which is really a natural nature reserve. Here also is the &apos;Atlantikwall&apos;, a complex of tunnels and bunkers built by occupying German troops in the Very first and Second Globe Wars. Nearby is also an archaeological site of a medieval fishing village from 13th to 15th centuries.For garden lovers, the Japanese Garden within the Koningspark is worth a visit and can be found opposite the swimming baths, near the sea wall.Things to do:A walk along the splendidly clean and unspoilt beach, with a swim or paddle within the sea, is one of Oostende&apos;s pleasantest activities, but there are plenty of further activities within the centre and close to Oostende.Oostende has several purchasing centres, including the traffic-free Kappellestraat, Adolf Buylstraat and Witte Nonnestraat. Also, at the Alfons Pieterslaan and the Torhoutsesteenweg you can shop all year round. Market day in Oostende is on Thursdays on the Wapenplein, Groentemarkt and Mijnplein.For those interested in history and culture, Oostende has several museums and galleries to visit. The Museum of Local History holds collections from the Neolithic and Roman times, a maritime section and sections on the two world wars. The Museum of Fine Arts holds works from the Belgian Masters, and at the Museum of Modern Art you can see a wide range of paintings, sculptures and objects from Belgium&apos;s recent history. Other areas are the Museum Sint-Pieterstoren, the Museum of Religious Arts, the North Sea Aquarium and the Schooner Mercator which is a former Merchant Navy training ship now restored as a nautical museum. James Ensor House is where the famous impressionist painter lived.One on the most well-known areas for families with children is the Maria Hendrika Park. Here you will find minigolf, rowing and pedal boats, playgrounds and woodland walks. Refreshments are available at the caf&amp;eacute;.You can also take a horse-drawn carriage tour around the city, where you will be shown the interesting sights of the city.Food &amp;amp; Drink:Whatever kind of food or restaurant you are looking for you are likely to find it here. Oostende has plenty of restaurants, cafes, bars and taverns both within its lively city centre, and along the promenade. Wherever you go, you will find kiosks selling mussels, fresh fish restaurants, and the ice cream is not to be missed.There are several bars selling real ale, including the Caf&amp;eacute; Botteltje and the Ostens Bierhuus. Oostende also has a selection of English style pubs.One with the most preferred restaurants within the city is the James Tavern in James Ensor Galerij 34, off Vlaanderenstraat. In its friendly atmosphere, you can sample a wide range of local cuisine, including their specialty, garnaalkroketten, or shrimp croquettes.Of course, Oostende&apos;s best-loved food is fresh fish, and you do not have to look too far to find a wide choice of areas specialising in seafood. One of your best fish restaurants is the Old Fisher on the Fisherman&apos;s Wharf. This has a relaxed but elegant atmosphere where you can sample a wide range of local fresh fish dishes. Another fish restaurant is the David Dewaele, a family-run restaurant serving French cuisine and fish fresh from the North Sea.Hotels &amp;amp; AccommodationAlpha Hotel

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Alternatively, in nearby Wevelgem, tourists can dine at Biggles, a restaurant revered for their fine service and friendly atmosphere, or the La Dolce Vita, at Stationsstraat 10 near the railway station, an Italian restaurant offering pizza and tagliatelli, among other fine dishes. Finally, travellers can get pleasure from fine wine in almost any on the cafes in Belgium, as several from the web pages have a license to sell spirits.

Ostend hotels

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