Oostburg | |
Settlement Type: | The Burg |
Native Name Lang: | nl |
Pushpin Map: | Netherlands Zeeland#Netherlands |
Pushpin Label Position: | right |
Pushpin Mapsize: | 250 |
Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in the province of Zeeland in the Netherlands |
Subdivision Type: | Country |
Subdivision Name: | Netherlands |
Subdivision Type1: | Province |
Subdivision Name1: | Zeeland |
Subdivision Type2: | Municipality |
Subdivision Name2: | Sluis |
Elevation Footnotes: | [1] |
Elevation M: | 1.4 |
Area Total Km2: | 26.54 |
Population Footnotes: | [2] |
Population Total: | 4,650 |
Population As Of: | 2021 |
Population Density Km2: | auto |
Timezone: | CET |
Utc Offset: | +1 |
Timezone Dst: | CEST |
Utc Offset Dst: | +2 |
Postal Code Type: | Postal code |
Postal Code: | 4501 |
Area Code Type: | Dialing code |
Area Code: | 0117 |
Coordinates: | 51.3264°N 3.4931°W |
Website: | www.oostburg.nl (in Dutch) |
Oostburg (Zeelandic Flemish: Wòstburg) is a city in the south-western Netherlands. It is located in the municipality of Sluis, in the province of Zeeland. As of 1 January 2015, its population is 4731, down from 5008 in January 2005. It received city rights in 1237. Before 1 January 2003, Oostburg was also the name of a municipality. It merged with Sluis-Aardenburg to form the new municipality of Sluis. The municipality covered an area of 224.93 km2, of which 1.05 km2 was water. As well as the town of Oostburg, the former municipality also included the following towns, villages and townships:
Oostburg is typically a tourist town very close to the beaches at Cadzand. Every Wednesday is market day all year round but in the summer the city is busy and has many events.
Oostburg's symbol is the unicorn, from which the townsfolk are said to derive strength and courage. In reality, the unicorn's presence is represented by a sculpture produced by artist Liesbeth Messer-Heijbroek who for many years, with her husband, lived in the area: she evidently took inspiration from the name of a former inn. The sculpture has been repositioned at least once since it first appeared in 1952 during the postwar reconstruction: at one stage it adorned a small car park. It shares with a modern fountain a spot in "Eenhoornplantsoen" (Unicorn Place) beyond the northern end of the old market square in the town centre.
During the Second World War, approximately 140 Oostburg townsfolk died and most of all the buildings, shops and churches were destroyed. This monument is a tribute to them and the rebuilding of the town. Around the lower part of the monument are the names of those who perished.