like västerlånggatan, österlånggatan used to pass outside of the city walls and was for many centuries one of the city's major streets. (see västerlånggatan for more details.) when skeppsbron, the broad street and quay running to the east of österlånggatan, was created during the 17th century, österlånggatan lost much of the importance it used to have. compared to västerlånggatan, österlånggatan is today a relatively quiet street notwithstanding the many restaurants and shops, in sharp contrast to the neighbourhood when the street formed the backyard of the dock district, crowded with sailors, taverns, travellers, and traders.