Dunkerque – dunes de Flanders

Dunkerque is a seaside destination offering superb beaches and dunes, delicious food, great shopping and fascinating visitor attractions.

The Beach

While the children play on the beach, you can sit back and enjoy the water sports show. With 15km of sandy beach, the Dunes de Flandre is a paradise for kite-surfers, sand-surfers and wind-surfers.

It’s difficult to image today that this beach was the scene of the greatest evacuation operations in military history. Over 9 days in 1940 340,000 French and British soldiers were rescued from advancing German troops by a quickly assembled fleet of about seven hundred vessels.

Shopping

Dunkerque is also a shoppers paradise. The perfect place to stop off at the start or end of your holiday, there’s something for everyone:

  • 400 town centre shops including all your favourite brands – H&M, Mango, Kookai, Esprit…as well as French cosmetics and perfume classics such as Sephora and Marionnaud. Parking is not a problem, with 1000 free places next to the Centre Marine and the Pole Marine, the town’s two covered shopping malls.
  • Visit the largest Auchan Hypermarket in France. The Auchan Flandres Littoral, situated on the outskirts of the city, is open Mon-Fri 08.45am to 9.45pm. It has an enormous drinks section with over 350 different wines and all the major names in Champagne.

Food

Thanks to its location, Dunkerque boasts a unique combination of traditional Flemish cooking and excellent seafood. Nothing beats a delicious plate of local moules-frites accompanied by an ice-cold beer or glass of chilled white wine. From a quick 4-course gastronomic extravaganza, one thing is for sure: Dunkerque’s huge range of restaurants represents excellent value for money.

Golf

Dunkerque’s recently re-landscaped 27-hole golf course is now a must for any golfer. Nine highly original new holes have been added, inspired by the design of Dunkerque’s 17th century military fortifications. Driving off artillery towers and bastions, and navigating moats and lakes all make for an unforgettable golfing experience. The course is situated just 15km from the ferry terminal and 5km from the town centre.

Surrounding area

Arriving in Dunkerque opens the way to exploring some of the areas typically Flemish villages. Bergues, Gravelines, Hondschoote… these typical Flemish villages in the heart of the countryside boast beautiful churches and fascinating museums. You can explore on foot, by bike, canal or even horseback.

Tourist Office Information

For further information and additional information on accommodation and restaurants in Dunkerque, visit the Tourist Office website at www.ot-dunkerque.fr or call the tourist office on 00.33.3.28.66.79.21