Dunkirk, Ferries and Ferry Crossings

Welcome to the Dunkirk (France) section of FerryCrossings.org, the site for information about major UK and continental ports and the ferries between them. Our site includes an introduction to a number of ports and feature pages about the various crossing ways, lanes and routes and companies operating between them to help you plan your journey and discover interesting travel destinations along the way. You can even compare prices and save money on your ferry tickets with ads from selected major ferry lines.

Port of Dunkirk, France

Dunkirk. Dunkirk is a name synomous, for a certain generation, with words such as 'heroic', 'self sacrifice', 'bravery', 'endurance' etc., etc. For so many it is a simple reminder of the evacuation of Allied troops from the beaches of Dunkirk in the early summer of 1940. Today, though, Dunkirk, is a large, busy town in northern France only 10kms from the frontier with Belgium. It is also the 3rd largest harbour in France, with only those of Le Havre and Marseille being bigger. The town is heavily dependent on food processing, steel, oil, ship-building and chemical industries for its economy. Having said this, though, it isn't necessarily a town to be rushed through if you arrive in it via the cross channel ferry from Dover. Like many towns on the northern coastline of France much of Dunkirk was destoyed during the years of the war between 1939 and 1945. Dunkirk, like many strategically placed European towns has had a chequered history of ownership. Over the last thousand years or so the area was claimed by, in turn, Spain, England, The Netherlands and France. In the late 16th and the 17th century Dunkirk was infamous as the base of a fleet of pirate ships attacking and capturing the merchant ships of countries hostile to Spain. They were known as the 'Dunkirkers'. Its fortunes wavered for a while in 1646 when the port fell into French hands but was it re-taken by the Hapsburgs in 1652. Five years later, though, in 1657, when England's Commonwealth was at war with Spain, it was captured by the English. Dunkirk finally became French in 1662 when the restored English king, King Charles ll, sold it back to France. One of Dunkirk's most famous sons from this period is Jean Bart who has had almost 30 French naval ships and a town square named after him. A statue in his honour, erected in the town, survived the second world war.

Dunkirk has two important museums, the Musee Portuaire has exhibitions about the history and development of the port and the Musee des Beaux - Artes has large collections of French, Italian and Flemish Art and sculpture. The visitor to Dunkirk will find that there are not only boats and ships in port and marinas but beaches and pleasant sea front strolls. If your travels take you to Dunkirk, during February through to March, you may catch the annual carnival that is held at this time each year with folk songs and parades. The carnival dates back to the early 18th century when the local fishermen would be preparing to leave for the Icelandic Fisheries. There would be a celebratory feast for the departing fishermen. Slowly, over the next century the celebrations became bigger and moved into the streets of the town when everyone dressed up and paraded through the streets with linked arms singing traditional folk songs. Smoked herring and plastic lobsters also have their part to play in these festivities!