Dunkirk is a commune in Nord, a French department in northern France. It lies 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) from the Belgian border. It has the third-largest French harbour.

Etymology

The name of Dunkirk derives from West Flemish dun(e) ‘dune’ or ‘dun’ and kerke ‘church’, which together means ‘church in the dunes’.

Economy

Dunkirk has the third-largest harbour in France, after those of Le Havre and Marseille. As an industrial city, it depends heavily on the steel, food processing, oil-refining, ship-building and chemical industries.

Cuisine

The cuisine of Dunkirk closely resembles Flemish cuisine; perhaps one of the best known dishes is coq à la bière – chicken in a creamy beer sauce.

Tourist attractions

• The Musée Portuaire displays exhibits of images about the history and presence of the port.
• The Musée des Beaux-Arts has a large collection of Flemish, Italian and French paintings and sculptures.
• The Carnival of Dunkirk

• The Tour du Leughenaer (Tour du Leughenaer) (the Liar’s Tower)
• Dunkirk Town Hall
• Carnival in Dunkirk
• Malo-les-Bains beach front
• Dunkirk Beach
• The remains of the East Mole of Dunkirk harbour, pictured in 2009

Transport

Dunkirk has a ferry with the firm DFDS with regular services each day to England. The Gare de Dunkerque railway station offers connections to Gare de Calais-Ville, Gare de Lille Flandres, Arras and Paris, and several regional destinations in France. The railway line from Dunkirk to De Panne and Adinkerke, Belgium, is closed and has been dismantled in places.

In September 2018, Dunkirk’s public transit service introduced free public transport, thereby becoming the largest city in Europe to do so.

Sports

• USL Dunkerque, French football club, currently playing in the National.
• The Four Days of Dunkirk (or Quatre Jours de Dunkerque) is an important elite professional road bicycle racing event.
• Stage 2 of the 2007 Tour de France departed from Dunkirk.