Oostburg

For the village in the United States, see Oostburg, Wisconsin.

Oostburg
Flag Coat of arms
Oostburg in de gemeente Sluis
Coordinates: 51°19′35″N 3°29′35″E
Country	Netherlands
Province	Zeeland
Municipality	Sluis
Population  (1 January 2015)	4,731
Website	www.oostburg.nl (in Dutch)

Oostburg (Zeelandic Flemish: Wòstburg) is a town in the south-western Netherlands. It is the largest town 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:

• Breskens
• Cadzand
• Groede
• Hoofdplaat
• IJzendijke
• Nieuwvliet
• Schoondijke
• Waterlandkerkje
• Zuidzande

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 town is busy and has many fun 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 the sculptress 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 during the period postwar reconstruction in 1952, and at one stage adorned a small car park. Currently 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.

WW2 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.