Did you know that some combat scenes of the new blockbuster Dunkirk were shot on the Dutch IJsselmeer near Urk? This includes some of the most demanding scenes, including placing up to 60 extras in a boat designed to hold less than 10 people.
The war movie focuses on the massive evacuation of 340,000 Allied troops from the seaport of Dunkirk in northern France in 1940.
Directer Christopher Nolan is best known for commercial successes like Interstellar, Inception and the Dark Knight trilogy. Dunkirk’s cast includes Tom Hardy, Mark Rylance and teen heartthrob Harry Styles.
One condition for shooting in Urk
The village of Urk welcomed Christopher Nolan and his crew with open arms under one condition; respecting Urk’s religious values and therefore no filming on Sunday as it is considered a day of rest in the strongly conservative community.
Fun facts
- The locals of Urk cannot watch the movie on the big screen in their hometown as there is no movie theatre in Urk.
- The movie is shot by Dutch cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema
