Some other names for the city include Livonian: Vǟnta, Estonian: Vindavi, and Polish: Windawa.

44 warships and 79 trading ships were built in the town, and it was from Ventspils that the Duke's fleet set out to colonize Gambia and Tobago.

During the German occupation from 1915 to 1919, the population decreased almost by half, though some returned home during the First Republic of Latvia (1918–1940).

After independence, the Latvian government began a city-beautification process to make the city more attractive to tourists.

Large amounts of oil and other mineral resources from Russia are loaded aboard ships at Ventspils.

Every winter Ventspils hosts the awarding ceremony of the Latvian Radio broadcast Musical Bank and the televised national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest.

There is also a rodeo track (Latvian: Rodeļu trase) which is available to use all year round Ventspils has a 600 mm (1 ft 11+5⁄8 in) narrow-gauge train; a beach and dunes and an observatory with a telescope and digital planetarium.

Ventspils developed rapidly as a commercial harbour in the years of growth of Duchy of Courland and Semigallia.

The most active building works took place in the vicinity of the present Market Square where a number of former storehouses from the 17th century are preserved.

Next to the Market Square, in a historical school building on Skolas street, there is the Ventspils House of the Crafts (2007).

The International Writers’ and Translators’ House (2006) was opened on the premises of the former City Hall (1850), on the City-Hall Square.