Steenwerck (; Dutch: Steenwerk) is a commune, in French Flanders, in the Nord department in northern France. It is located about north of Lille and in 2013 had a population of 3519. People from Steenwerck are known as Steenwerckois. It is home to Steenwerck's 100 km à pied race event, which mainly features a marathon, although most local residents prefer to merely walk one lap (roughly ). Steenwerck also has its own festival giant, as is the tradition in the Nord Department, which is named Totor and is one of the tallest, measuring . Other places of interest include the Museum of Rural Life as well as three Commonwealth war cemeteries, and a German war cemetery, of the First World War. Heraldry History Steenwerck was created by the Franks. The first mention in the 12th century – in 1160 with the invasion by La Becque, from Saint-Jans-Cappel. Commerce was originally started by the town's founder, la Becque, who built canals with locks right up to Lys. The local weavers were able to deliver their bolts of cloth to the port situated in the town centre from where they would be sent on to the clothes manufacturing town of Armentièrs. The boats used were called martsheps, that is, 'market boats', which were flat bottomed boats. It was by using these boats that local farmers were able to deliver their produce to the neighbouring towns. Boats of this type were used right up until the middle of the 19th century. Etymology and evolution of the name Through the course of history, several variations have appeared: for the period when Middle Dutch was spoken (1150 - 1550) one would see: In 1160: Steinwerc In 1182: Estenwerck In 1260: Stuuinwercke In 1331: Steinwerck In 1332: Steenwerc Then in various documents, the name became Stewerc. In modern Dutch steen means stone werk means work, construction Transportation Steenwerck is between Calais and Lille and very close to the Belgian border. It is well-served by road from both cities via the A25 road. Steenwerck is on the Calais Ville section of the Lille-Fontinettes railway to Lille Flanders station. Culture and heritage Museums The Museum of Rural Life Built in the central courtyard of an old farm at the start of the 18th century, it shows the activities and trades of a typical Flemish village from 1850 to 1950. With more than 1500 square metres of exhibition space