BERGUES  , a

town of northern France, in the department of Nord, at the junction of the canal of the Colme with canals to Dunkirk and Furnes (in Belgium), 5 M . S.S.E. of Dunkirk by rail . Pop . (1906) 44.99 . The town has a belfry, the finest in French Flanders, dating from the middle of the 16th century and restored in the 19th century . The church of St Martin is a brick building of the 17th century in the Gothic style with a modern facade . The town hall, dating from the latter half of the 19th century, contains a municipal library and an interesting collection of pictures . The industries of the town include brewing and malting, and the manufacture of brushes and oil .