Dunkirk

Dunkirk (French: Dunkerque, pronooncit [dœ̃kɛʁk], locally: [dæ̃kɛʁk]; Dutch: Duinkerke(n), [ˈdœynkɛrkə(n)]; Wast Flemish: Duunkerke) is a commune in the Nord depairtment, northren Fraunce. It lies 10 kilometres (6 miles) frae the Belgian border. The population o the ceety (commune) at the 1999 census wis 70,850 inhabitants (71,300 inhabitants as per Februar 2004 estimates). The population o the metropolitan aurie wis 265,974 inhabitants as per the 1999 census.

The name o Dunkirk derives frae Wast Flemish "dun(e)" (dune) an "kerke" (kirk). Till the middle o the 20t century the ceety wis situatit in the French Flemish aurie; the day the local Flemish dialect, a variety o the Dutch leid, can still be foond but haes been lairgely replaced bi French.

Dunkirk maintains Sister Ceety relationships wi the follaein eeties:

• Krefeld, Germany syne 15 Juin 1974
• Middlesbrough, Unitit Kinrick syne Aprile 12, 1976
• Gaza, Palestine
• Riga, Latvie syne 1960
• Rostock, Germany syne 1960
• Vitória, Brazil
• Corumbá, Brazil
• Ramat HaSharon, Israel

Dunkirk haes co-operation agreements wi:

• Dartford destrict, Unitit Kinrick syne Mairch 1988
• Thanet destrict, Unitit Kinrick syne Juin 18, 1993

Coordinates: 51°02′16″N 2°22′35″E / 51.0378°N 2.3764°E / 51.0378; 2.3764