The Musée Portuaire occupies a converted 19th-century tobacco warehouse on the inner harbour — an appropriately industrial setting for a museum about the history of Dunkerque as a working port. The collection covers several centuries of maritime trade, from early navigation instruments and ship models to photographs of the great 20th-century industrial expansions that made Dunkerque one of France's three largest commercial ports.
Several historic vessels are moored outside and accessible as part of the visit, including a lightship and a steam tug. The lightship in particular is worth exploring — the crew quarters, engine room, and lantern mechanism are all preserved. The museum is unpretentious and detailed, aimed at people genuinely interested in port history rather than casual tourism. French-language labelling dominates, though staff are helpful with questions in English.