Ostend

Ostend is a  Belgian city and municipality located in the  Flemish province of West Flanders.

It is described by Evelyn, in an entry from 9 October 1641, as:

Here, with leave of the captain of the watch, I was carried to survey the river and harbor, with fortifications on one side thereof: the east and south are mud and earth walls. It is a very strong place, and lately stood a memorable siege three years, three months, three weeks, and three days. I went to see the church of St. Peter, and the cloisters of the Franciscans.

The siege he refers to is the The Siege of Ostend, from1601 to 1604, of which cost a combined total of more than 80,000 dead or wounded, making it the single bloodiest battle of the Eighty Years’ War.

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• Wikipedia article on Ostend

• Wikipedia for background.