Hazebrouck

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Location of Hazebrouck in the arrondissement of Dunkirk

Hazebrouck is a commune of the Nord département, in northern France. Population (1999): 21,396. Hazebrouck in Flanders was a small market town before it became an important railway junction in the 1860's.Flemish was the usual popular language used in the town until 1880.

Hazebrouck en Flandre

In those days French was learnt at school and became spoken thanks to the development of the railways which links Hazebrouck to Lille to Calais and Dunkirk.

The town hall

Its town hall was built in the 19th century and the oldest monument of the town is St Eloi's church.

During the two world wars Hazebrouck was an important military target. Many British soldiers are buried in the cemeteries around the town. In the town Museum which originally was a Chapel and a Friary of the Augustines, visitors can see the Hazebrouck's giants - Roland, Tijse-Tajse, Toria and Babe-Tajse, a collection of Flemish and French paintings and a traditional Flemish kitchen.

The entrance of the chapel

A private Chapel which is now part of [College Saint-Jacques] can now be visited. This old College was an [English hospital] during the first world war and a twinning is still active in 2005 with Faversham (Kent).

External links

[Official town website] (in French)
[History of St Francis of Assisi college 1854-1973](in English)

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