OSTEND, a very strong sea-port town of the Netherlands, in Austrian Flanders, with a good harbour and a magnificent town-house. It is not very large, but it is well fortified. It was much more considerable before the long siege of the Spaniards, which continued from 1601 to 1604, when it was almost entirely reduced to ashes. The Dutch lost 50,000 men, and the Spaniards 80,000. Isabella Eugenia, governante of the Netherlands, made a vow she would not
shift her smock before Ostend surrendered; but before Ostecolla. the town was taken it had greatly changed its colour. However, the ladies of the court, to keep her in countenance, had theirs dyed, that they might be like that of their mistress. This place was taken by the Dutch in 1706, but restored to the emperor in 1724, when an East India company was established here, but entirely suppressed by treaty in 1731. It was taken by the French in August 1745, after ten days siege, but rendered back by the treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle. It was lately over-run by the French Republicans, with Dumourier at their head, but was quickly recovered by the junction of the allies, and is now in the hands of the Emperor. It was thought to be in extreme danger after the unfortunate affair at Dunkirk; but Septem- that storm having blown over, it appears now to be ber 1793. perfectly safe. It is ten miles W. of Bruges, eight N. E. of Newport, 22 N. E. of Dunkirk, and 60 N. W. of Brussels. E. Long. 3. 1. N. Lat. 51. 14.