View of the Netherlands Wharf, Dunkirk, late 18th century

Bordering the Bassin du Commerce to the south-east, the Netherlands Wharf marks one of the boundaries of Dunkirk’s old town. It is dominated by the octagonal Leughenaer Tower, standing 30 metres tall, the last remaining part of the city walls built around the town from 1405 onwards. Extensively rebuilt in 1759, this tower was subsequently given an additional storey to accommodate a lighthouse that operated from 1825 to 1843. On either side, the houses still follow the line of the old ramparts. To the right, the Jean-Bart gate, built under Louis XIV, can be seen.