FRBV26 - DEM EC Visit to the Port Center in Dunkerque

On March 23rd 2026 , the Spanish students and their French partners (3rd formers in France) visited the "Port Center," located on the top floor of the Port Museum building in the city centre.

It is a modern venue, open to both school groups and local residents. It holds an international label shared by several major European ports (such as Rotterdam, Bilbao, Livorno, etc.).

As a cultural and educational resource, it offers a permanent exhibition featuring a variety of media : information panels and maps showcasing geopolitical and economic issues via interactive digital displays, a warehouse reconstruction with transported goods, and virtual reality headsets offering a tour of the industrial port of Dunkirk, which every student was able to use at the end of the visit.

The group primarily attended a lecture, given in English, by the guide. She detailed the history and evolution of the Port of Dunkirk from the medieval era (and fishing activities) through the destruction of World War II, to the industrial development of the region. This development is essentially focused toward the west (spanning a long distance of 30 km to the town of Gravelines), while the east is covered by protected dune areas.

The students were able to discover the various major industries that have developed there and the many different professions connected to them. Finally, they learned about the new business facilities currently under construction and future innovative activities, particularly those related to environmental protection issues.

They easily picked up on key points and learnt new facts: Dunkerque is France’s third-largest port; the tonnage of goods passing through the port of Dunkirk (international container shipping); and the main product of this trade, which passes exclusively through Dunkirk: bananas.