Colonial traces in Ostend

During this walk, you will discover how the colonization of Congo by Leopold II and Belgium also left its mark on Ostend. Flags, monuments, and other – sometimes vanished – references tell how for a long time, a rosy story was mainly told about “civilization” and “liberation.” Today, we look more critically at that past. The guide places these colonial traces in a broader context, with attention to slavery, stereotyping, resource theft, and Congolese voices. This gives you an accessible and nuanced picture of how Ostend deals with this shared, yet burdened past. Guides: dirk beirens