About this place
The Dune Marchand National Nature Reserve protects one of the last stretches of untouched coastal dune landscape in French Flanders, straddling the towns of Bray-Dunes and Zuydcoote just east of Dunkirk, close to the Belgian border. It offers a rare glimpse of what the entire French North Sea coastline once looked like before large-scale development.
When was the reserve created and how big is it?
The site received official protection in 1974, making it one of the older nature reserves in the Hauts-de-France region. It originally covered 83 hectares. A decree issued on February 26, 2024 extended its boundaries to 113 hectares, bringing additional stretches of valuable dune habitat under protection. The land is owned by the Conservatoire du littoral, the French coastal protection agency, while day-to-day management is handled by the Nord department.
What makes this dune system ecologically important?
Dune Marchand preserves a classic Flanders dune landscape: wind- and sea-shaped sandy ridges alternating with damp hollows nestled between them. It is precisely this mosaic of habitats — from dry, sun-exposed dune crests to moist interdunal slacks — that supports over 400 recorded species of animals and plants, making the reserve one of the richest natural sites in northern France.
Its ecological value is formally recognized through its inclusion in the Natura 2000 network as a Site of Community Importance (FR3100474), classified in July 2003. The reason: the reserve contains nearly the full range of natural dune vegetation types found in France, a rare completeness at a national scale.
Which animals live in the reserve?
The ponds and sheltered refuge zones scattered across the dunes are home to a range of amphibians, including natterjack toads, great crested newts, and common frogs, alongside various dragonfly species that breed in the shallow water. In spring, visitors walking near the scrubby thickets can often hear the distinctive song of the common nightingale, one of the most recognizable birdsongs in European woodland and scrub habitats.
Frequently asked questions
Where exactly is the reserve located? East of Dunkirk, across the municipalities of Bray-Dunes and Zuydcoote, in the Nord department of the Hauts-de-France region.
How large is the reserve? Following the 2024 extension it covers 113 hectares, up from the original 83 hectares protected since 1974.
Who manages the site? The Conservatoire du littoral owns the land, while the Nord department is responsible for its management.
Does the reserve have international ecological status? Yes, it has been part of the Natura 2000 network as a Site of Community Importance since 2003, recognized for its exceptional diversity of natural dune vegetation.
What species are most characteristic of the site? Amphibians such as the great crested newt and common frog, along with the common nightingale, whose song can be heard in the dune scrub during spring.
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