Leughenaer Tower

The Leughenaer Tower, the oldest monument in Dunkirk

A true symbol of the port city, the Leughenaer Tower is the oldest building in Dunkirk. Built in the fifteenth century, it was part of the ramparts that protected the city. The Dunkirk audio-guided tour stops here to go back to the origins of this maritime city, marked by wars and the sea.

An octagonal tower from the fifteenth century

Raised at the beginning of the fifteenth century, the Leughenaer Tower dominated the harbour from its thirty metres. It was part of the twenty-eight towers that once surrounded the city. Its name comes from an old Dutch word meaning 'liar'. An octagonal tower listed as a historic monument in 1995, it is today the oldest witness of the history of Dunkirk.

What to see

The tower, with its octagonal stone outline, stands near the harbour and testifies to the fortified past of the city. It is seen from the outside; depending on the period, its ground floor may be open to visits by a local association. It is an essential stop to understand the defensive and maritime history of Dunkirk.

Practical information

The Leughenaer Tower lies near the harbour of Dunkirk, reachable on foot and by public transport. A historic monument, it is freely seen from the outside; access to the ground floor, managed by an association, follows variable hours. It is best to enquire before coming to know whether the tower is open to visits.

Why is the Leughenaer Tower important?

It is the oldest building in Dunkirk, an octagonal fifteenth-century tower, a vestige of the twenty-eight towers that once surrounded the city, listed as a historic monument in 1995.

What does the name Leughenaer mean?

It comes from an old spelling of a Dutch word meaning 'liar', a nickname that has remained attached to this tower of the Dunkirk harbour.