As a World War II history buff, you may be wondering if there are any things to do in Dunkirk related to this favorite topic of yours. Lucky for you, you’ve clicked on the right link. I recently returned from my one day in Dunkirk and I’m here to share all my intel.
This post lists all the World War II-related things to do in Dunkirk, France. Given the significance of what happened here, most of them revolve around the Dunkirk Evacuation but there are a couple of otherwise interesting sites to see as well. Before we get into it, here’s a quick recap…
The Dunkirk Evacuation
When Hitler invaded Poland on September 1, 1939, Britain and France declared war on Germany. This eventually resulted in Nazi Germany invading the “low countries” of France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands in May of 1940. Unprepared for Germany’s blitzkrieg style of war, these countries fell to the Germans in a matter of days (though the ensuing battles lasted for about six weeks).
As Germany pushed the Allied forces farther and farther back, these French, Belgian, and British troops became trapped on the beaches at Dunkirk, unable to retreat any farther. And so began Operation Dynamo—the chaotic attempt to evacuate these troops from Dunkirk by sea.
I recently visited Dunkirk as a stop on my 10-day Belgium WWII itinerary. Get the details in that link.
Operation Dynamo & the Little Ships
To rescue such a large number of troops from Dunkirk (with its ill-equipped port) required a lot of improvising. This made the evacuation a painfully slow and cumbersome process. There was only one area of the port where larger ships could dock, so the Allies called on the aid of “little ships” to handle the rest.
The Dunkirk “little ships” were privately-owned watercrafts that could navigate shallow waters, things like private yachts, pleasure boats, fishing boats, etc. Most were graciously taken over by the Royal Navy, but some were actually manned by their civilian owners.
All said and done, more than 800 vessels (both large and small) evacuated over 338,000 Allied troops from Dunkirk and sailed them to (relative) safety across the English Channel.
Though the Battle of France dealt a huge blow to the early Allies’ fighting forces, the Dunkirk evacuation actually boosted British morale. Had the troops not been evacuated, that would’ve spelled the end for the Allied cause and… who knows how things would’ve turned out. Instead, this event bolstered what was dubbed the “Dunkirk Spirit”—coming together to face adversity and the refusal to accept defeat.
Also read: 8 Reasons Battleship Museums are the Best Museums
Map of WWII things to do in Dunkirk
This map contains all the WWII things to do in Dunkirk I mention in this post. To save this map: Click on the star ⭑ next to the map’s title to save in your Google Maps. To use this map: Open Google Maps on your phone, click “Saved” at the bottom, then click “Maps.”
If you’d like more on planning a trip to Dunkirk, check out my day trip guide that includes a 1-day Dunkirk itinerary for WWII buffs like you.
1. Musée Dunkerque 1940 (Operation Dynamo Museum)
The Operation Dynamo Museum focuses on all things related to the Battle of Dunkirk and the Dunkirk Evacuation. You’ll start with a 12-minute introductory film and then wander through its many rooms filled with historical photographs and tons of original artifacts from these events.
But what really makes this place interesting is the fact that it’s uniquely situated inside Bastion 32—the former headquarters of the Dunkirk defense teams. It was from inside this fort that the sea evacuations were coordinated.
Visitor information: Get all the hours, prices, and other essential visitor info here: dynamo-dunkerque.com
2. Atlantikwall Raversyde
The Atlantikwall Raversyde historical complex really impressed me on my May 2024 visit and gets my vote for the best of all the Dunkirk tourist attractions. This open-air “museum” includes over 60 well-preserved Atlantic Wall bunkers and two miles of trenches along the coast. It has bunkers and such from WWI too, but the majority of stuff you’ll see here was built by Nazi Germany for WWII.
You can tour the entire complex here—the underground tunnel networks, the bunkers and batteries, and so much more. Many of them have historical recreations inside and/or unique exhibits to help you visualize what the Nazis used these spaces for. This whole place is so interesting! (And the Belgian’s love of comic strips make it even more so.)
This site is located outside the center of Dunkirk, but well worth the short drive and inclusion in any Dunkirk itinerary.
Visitor information: Get opening hours, admission costs, and other necessary information here: raversyde.be
3. Dinner on the Princess Elizabeth
One of the most unique things to do in Dunkirk for WWII enthusiasts is to have dinner on the Princess Elizabeth. Named for Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II when she was little more than a newborn baby, the Princess Elizabeth was built in 1927 as a passenger ship but requisitioned by the British Navy during the war.
She served first as a minesweeper and was later used as a “little ship” in the evacuation of Dunkirk. Making four back-and-forth trips, the Princess Elizabeth evacuated around 1,630 troops from the beaches in and around Dunkirk. She served as an anti-aircraft ship for the next few years before being returned to her owners in 1944.
In 2017, the Princess Elizabeth appeared in Christopher Nolan’s 2017 blockbuster hit Dunkirk. Today, she functions as a restaurant—a must-have experience for any WWII fan visiting the town. The food’s great, the service is phenomenal, and the experience is unforgettable. (Definitely make reservations ahead of time.)
Visitor information: You can find hours, menus, and everything else you need to know (and make a reservation) here: princesselizabeth.eu
4. Fort des Dunes
Fort des Dunes is another military installation hidden beneath Dunkirk’s surface. It was originally built in 1878 and used as a headquarters during Operation Dynamo until it was heavily bombed by German Stukas. It was taken over by German forces and used as an anti-aircraft battery (among other things) for the duration of the war.
Today, you can tour the fort, visit its museum, or experience one of its many fun cultural programs and festivals.
Visitor information: Check out its hours, rates, and festival schedule here: fort-des-dunes.fr
5. The Dunkirk Memorial & Commonwealth Cemetery
At Dunkirk Town Cemetery, you’ll find the large Dunkirk Memorial at the entrance to the British War Graves section. This area contains the graves of Commonwealth World War II victims and some information panels. The memorial honors more than 4,500 British Expeditionary Force casualties who died between 1939-1940.
Getting here can be confusing, so here’s what you do: Park in the lot at the cemetery’s entrance and follow the green sign for the Dunkirk Memorial toward the main road. Exit onto the sidewalk and turn right. The entrance to the memorial is about a 4-minute walk down the road on your right. (It faces the main road and there’s no other parking nearby.)
Visitor information: You can find hours and some more useful info here: cwgc.org
6. Operation Dynamo Shipwrecks
Along the coastline from Dunkirk eastward to Bray Dunes you can still see the remains of several shipwrecks from the Battle of Dunkirk and the subsequent evacuation at low tide. I’ve marked some of these on the map at the top of the page. Time your visit right and look for the shipwrecks of:
- HMS Crested Eagle – Paddle steamer; bombed by German forces during the evacuation and sank with 300 soldiers on board, killing all
- PS Devonia – Paddle steamer used as a minesweeper in WWI and as a little ship during the Dunkirk evacuation; abandoned on May 31, 1940 while under heavy fire from German aircraft
- The Claude London – A water tanker used to provide the embattled troops with drinking water; sunk by Germans during the evacuation
These shipwrecks can only be seen at low tide. Head to maree.info for up-to-date Dunkirk tide information to plan your visit accordingly.
7. Memorial to the Allied Armies
Crossing the bridge behind the Operation Dynamo museum, you’ll eventually come to the large Dunkirk memorial next to the beach. This stone memorial under French, Belgian, and British flags (and the striped flags of Dunkirk) reads:
To the glorious memory of the marine aviators and soldiers of the French and Allied armies who sacrificed themselves in the Battle of Dunkirk May June 1940
8. Le Sablier Monument
Right next to the museum you’ll find a large concrete hourglass-shaped monument. This is Le Sablier (The Hourglass), intended to commemorate the success of Operation Dynamo.
As the plaque in front of it explains, the artist (Séverine Hubard) uses the hourglass to symbolize the passing of time during the evacuation in which troops “slowly trickled out to sea as they were evacuated.” The 2017 movie Dunkirk also does a great job of explaining the event this way. More on this monument here.
9. Wormhoudt Massacre site
Just a short drive from downtown Dunkirk is the location of one of Nazi Germany’s most heinous crimes and a memorial honoring its victims—the Wormhoudt Massacre.
On May 28, 1944, several British divisions found themselves outnumbered here and thus surrendered to German SS forces. Rather than take them prisoner, the SS marched the nearly 100 men to a nearby barn and packed them in.
They first attempted to kill the men by throwing grenades into the barn, but when that proved ineffective, they opened fire. The SS killed 80 men instantly, several more died from their injuries within the next two days. Fifteen of them actually escaped and were eventually discovered by regular German army troops, treated for their injuries, and taken prisoner.
The Wormhoudt Memorial
The barn was later rebuilt and now serves as a tribute to those killed here. It’s filled with photos and testimonials, memories, flowers, and more. Outside the barn is a grove of oak trees, each serving as a memorial to one of the victims. From here, you can follow a path over to the main memorial which contains a peace sculpture, several informational panels on the event, and a viewing platform atop a small hill.
Continue on a little farther and you’ll reach a small pond. Two of the men who were able to escape dived into this pond to hide. An SS found them and shot Captain James Lynn-Allen in the head. His body has never been found.
Private Bert Evans was shot in the neck and played dead until the SS left the scene. He later crawled out and was able to seek help and medical attention from the German Army (not the SS). He was held as a POW for four years until he was repatriated as part of a prisoner exchange. Evans died in 2013 at age 92. Until he became physically unable, he returned to the scene of the Wormhoudt Massacre every year.
Resources for your visit to Dunkirk
- Hotels: Find great places to stay here on Booking.com (though Expedia and Hotels.com usually have good deals too).
- Rental cars: Check out the best local rental car deals here.
- Travel planning: Pick up a France guidebook and this super helpful France customs and culture guide.
- Be sure to watch Dunkirk before your visit!
- What else have I covered in France? Check out my France archives.
Like this post? Have questions about visiting Dunkirk? Let me know in the comments below. Have fun in France!
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