Oostburg Explained

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.

The unicorn

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.

World War II Monument

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.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Postcodetool for 4501AA . nl . Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland . Het Waterschapshuis . 21 April 2022 .
  2. Web site: Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2021 . Central Bureau of Statistics . 21 April 2022.