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 1621 to 1624, when it was almost entirely reduced to ashes. The Dutch lost 50,000 men, and the Spaniards 80,000. Isabella Eugenia, governess of the Netherlands, made a vow she would not shift her smock before Ostend surrendered; but before 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 1726, 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 10 days' siege, but restored by the treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle. It was overrun by the French Republicans, with Dumourier at their head, but was quickly recovered by the junction of the allies. It was evacuated by the French in 1793, and they repopulated it in 1794. Here the British landed a body of troops in May 1798, who blew up and destroyed the works of the Bruges canal; but the wind shifting before they could re-embark, they were under the necessity of surrendering to the French. It is 10 miles W. of Bruges, eight N. E. of Newport, 22 N. E. of Dunkirk, and 65 N. W. of Brussels. E. Long. 2. 36. N. Lat. 51.