Which heritage sites can you visit in Ostend today? How much did Ostend suffer during the war? Discover it 80 years after the end of the Second World War. This article answers 9 quick questions and answers. 80 years after the end of the Second World War.
For example, did you know that the Queen of Seaside Resorts itself was liberated eight months before 8 May 2025? On 8 September 1944. This article will teach you even more about heritage locations and Ostend in and after WWII.
9 quick questions and answers:
What role did Ostend play during the war?
Ostend was a strategic city on the Belgian coast, for both the German occupiers and the Allies.
During the German invasion in May 1940, Ostend was an evacuation point for British troops as they retreated towards Dunkirk. Many died during this retreat.
During the German occupation, Ostend remained an important strategic location. The port was heavily fortified and defended by the occupiers. Because it was a crucial link in the supply and military operations. The port was also used for the defense of the Atlantic Wall.
This Atlantic Wall was built from a series of bunkers, forts, mines, ... along the European coast. With this the Germans wanted to prevent the Allies from invading Europe from the United Kingdom.
Furthermore, Ostend was used as a transport hub for German troop movements and logistics. The city was regularly subjected to air raids and Allied sabotage attempts.
How strategically important was the port of Ostend for the German occupiers?
Yes, the Germans used Ostend as an important logistical centre. The harbour was of great importance to the German navy. It ensured the supply of submarines and military vessels.
The Germans built bunkers and defences to protect the city and harbour from an allied invasion, making Ostend a target for bombing and military operations.
Which Allied forces liberated the city and when?
The Canadian First Army liberated Ostend on 8 September 1944, when the unit entered the city as part of the wider Allied advance through Belgium. Unlike other cities on the coast, there was little active fighting, as the Germans had largely withdrawn.
This meant that Ostend came under Allied control sooner than expected.
Was Ostend badly damaged by the war?
Yes, the city was badly damaged. In 1945, the wounds of the Second World War were deep in Ostend.
Large parts of the city were in ruins from bombing and fighting. Many buildings had disappeared or were unrecognizable from the war damage. The port, which played a strategic role, was badly damaged. Much of the infrastructure had been destroyed. It was barely usable.
Why was Ostend so affected?
Ostend had been an important logistical hub, including for the German navy. As a result, it was the target of many Allied air raids and bombings. These caused heavy damage to the city and its port. The bombs had destroyed buildings, bridges and roads. The port lay in ruins.
Many homes were uninhabitable. And the all-important tourist sector had to be rebuilt from scratch. Yet the spirit of the Ostend people remained strong: they were determined to rebuild their city.
What did the liberation mean for the inhabitants?
For the people of Ostend, the liberation meant the end of fear and oppression by the German occupation. The population reacted with a mixture of joy and exhaustion. They had survived years of occupation and scarcity. People celebrated the liberation in the streets. There was relief and joy. But the realization of the enormous damage and the loss of loved ones weighed on the festive mood.
Collaborators were also arrested and punished in Ostend.
At the same time, the people of Ostend suffered from uncertainty about the future. Many people were without homes or jobs. The city had to be rebuilt. Food and basic supplies remained scarce, and the aftermath of the war was felt for a long time.
What was daily life like in 1945?
In 1945, Ostend was still a city in recovery. Daily life was hard: food was scarce, houses had to be repaired and the economy had to get going again.
Still, normality slowly began to return. Ostend residents mainly tried to rebuild their lives. Markets reopened, schools reopened. And yes, the first tourists also cautiously returned to the Royal seaside resort.
How did the Second World War have a lasting impact on the appearance of Ostend?
The reconstruction after the war has permanently changed the appearance of Ostend. Many of the historical buildings that were destroyed during the war have not been rebuilt in their original form.
Instead, modern constructions were built, giving the city a different appearance today than it did before the war.
The skyline and architecture of Ostend were therefore directly influenced by the destruction of the Second World War. The harbour was also redeveloped in a different way. This had an influence on the further development of the city as a tourist and economic attraction.
Which heritage sites related to the Second World War can you visit in Ostend?
Bunkers, forts, heavy artillery... You can find it all in and around Ostend. We think these five heritage locations are worth visiting:
- Atlantic Wall Raversyde. This open-air museum provides an impressive view of the German defences on the Belgian coast. As a visitor, you can see bunkers, trenches and gun positions from WWII.
- Bunkers in Ostend. During the war, the Germans built a network of bunkers along the coast as part of the Atlantic Wall. In Ostend, there are still bunkers to visit. These concrete structures, often hidden in the dune landscape, give an impression of the military occupation and the preparation for an attack that never came.
- Fort Napoleon. Although originally built by the French, this fort was used by the Germans during WWII as a strategic lookout and storage facility. Today, you can visit exhibitions about the military history of Ostend.
- The Zeeheldenplein and surroundings. During the war, bunkers and military installations were built here. The traces of WWII may no longer be visible, but this place played an important role in the defense of the harbor.
- The cemetery Ostend New Communal Cemetery commemorates the impact of both world wars. There are 50 graves from the First World War and 366 from the Second World War. 75 victims were unidentified.
The cemetery also contains graves of other nationalities and eight non-war related burials.
Sources and further reading:
Want to read more about Ostend during and after World War II? We recommend these articles:
– The Standard: How the war changed Ostend forever
- Atlantikwall Museum Raversyde: German coastal defenses
– The Nieuwsblad and the documentaryOstend during the war 1940-1945 by Werner Rotsaert: The war hit Ostend hard at the time'
We would also like to thank the https://www.beeldbankkusterfgoed.be/ for the historical images of Ostend during and after the Second World War. They give us a very valuable image of the occupied and liberated Queen of Seaside Resorts.