Cruises visiting Dunkirk

Dunkirk (Dunkerque), located on the North Sea near the Belgian border, is one of France’s most important maritime hubs. Established in the 10th century as a center of fishing and trade, it later became a strategic naval base. Best known, perhaps, for the evacuation of some 338,000 Allied troops from its beaches in 1940 during Operation Dynamo, Dunkirk is today France’s third-largest port, handling millions of tons of cargo annually, including oil, coal, steel, and shipping containers. It is also the center of a growing offshore wind energy sector. Dunkirk has a vibrant cultural scene with an historic old town, museums, and the months-long Dunkirk Carnival, one of France’s most famous festivals.