Foto from the centre of Oostakker in 1979.

Image source: Vlaamse Gemeenschap

History
Present-day Oostakker was probably already inhabited in prehistoric
times.
In the Middle Ages, Oostakker belonged to the Sint-Baafsabdij. The place
name was first mentioned in the 11th century, as the "eastern fields" of
the abbey.
The current village center developed further north as a driessite (' a fallow
land’). In 1800 Oostakker became an independent municipality and its
western boundaries were moved several times in the 20th century, due to
the expansion of the port of Ghent. From 1942 to 1944, Oostakker was
part of the merged municipality of Groot-Ghent, by order of the German
occupier. On New Year's Day 1977, Oostakker finally ceased to exist as
an independent municipality and became part of Ghent.