Testerep

Testerep (or Ter Streep) once comprised an island along the Belgian coast. It existed as early as the 5th century. From the 10th century Fishing villages were scattered about, including Ostend and Westende, with Ostend on the far east (Oost-ende: east-end), Westende on the far west (West-ende: west-end), and Middelkerke (literally "middle-church") the middle of the island. Later, canals and dikes were built and the island became connected to the West Flanders mainland.

History

Creation

Testerep arose around the 5th and 6th century in front of the Belgian North Sea coast between Nieuwpoort and Bredene, as a result of tidal forces. The headland, commonly called "Ter Streep", was separated from the mainland by the Testerepvliet, a southernly situated tidal channel that was completely inundated at high tide. Because Testerep in subsequent centuries regularly flooded, permanent residence on the island was impossible. Only after a protective dune belt had formed in the 10th century modest settlements of mainly fishermen and sheep herders arose on the island. First Ostend was created in the 990s on the east end of Testerep, then followed by Westende on the west end and Middelkerke in the middle.

Partial annexation by the sea

In 1267 the Countess of Flanders, Margaretha of Constantinople, granted the Ostend settlement city rights. During the further development and expansion of the city, the surrounding dune belt in the east of Testerep was systematically flattened. Due to the disappearance of this natural protection, storm surges were given free rein over the island. For example, the St. Clemens Flood (1334) flooded and ruined the vulnerable island. The enormous flood during the St Vincentius Flood (1394) was the death blow for the still young, vulnerable city. Thousands of townspeople were forced to leave the original city and founded a second Ostend five hundred meters inland, no longer on the former island of Testerep but on land in the Bredene district.

In the 15th and 16th centuries, the devastating tidal waves of a new series of storm surges would eventually sink the northern half of Testerep into the North Sea. After poldering of the Testerepgeul, the southern part would form part of the mainland from the twelfth century, the widest part of which formed Westende and Lombardsijde.