The original port of Dunkirk was a beaching port, inaccessible for large ships at low tide. Construction of the Citadel Lock in 1852 made it possible to create a wet dock and to keep a constant water level.
From then on, traffic exploded, boosted by the Industrial Revolution and the construction of railway connections. The Commerce Dock quickly proved to be insufficient. The shortage of wharves became so severe that ships had to load or unload their cargo with three ships abreast.
Thanks to Jean-Baptiste Trystram, President of the Chamber of Commerce, who managed to convince him of his reasoning, the Minister of Public Works Charles de Freycinet decided to finance huge development works: construction of four new docks, four dry docks, a new lock and the digging of a canal.
Between 1848 and 1898 the length of the quays increased from 2.3 to 8.2 km, and the traffic from 179,000 tons to 3,000,000 tons. By the turn of the century Dunkirk had become the third port of France.
The Freycinet docks specialize in the handling of conventional cargo.
The Freycinet dock and quay.
Postcards. Beginning 20th century.
Port Museum Collection.
Aerial view of the town and the port. Photo: Dunkerque Grand Littoral.