German and Allied troops engaged in around the nearby Belgian town of Ypres. When German troops used chlorine gas against the Allied troops near Wulverghem (municipality of Heuvelland, Belgium) on 30 April 1916 over a front length of 3.2 kilometres, the resulting toxic gas cloud extended as far as Bailleul. During the German Spring Offensive in Operation Georgette from 13 April 1918, Bailleul with its old Flemish Town Centre was more than 90 percent destroyed. After the severe destruction of the First World War, the town was rebuilt in the Neo-Flemish style during the 20th century. A typical example of the architectural style, which was widespread throughout Flanders, is the town hall of 1932 with its bell tower. Railways Bailleul has a railway station on the line from Lille to Calais and Dunkirk. International relations Bailleul is twinned with: Werne, Germany, since 1967 Hawick, Scotland, United Kingdom, since 1973 Izegem, Belgium, since 1992 Kyritz, Germany, since 2012 Wałcz, Poland, since 2015 Personalities Edmond de Coussemaker Pharaon de Winter, painter Marguerite Yourcenar, academic Jean Delobel, politician Michel Delebarre, politician Bruno Dumont, director and filmmaker Philippe Édouard Léon Van Tieghem, Biologist and botanist born in Bailleul in 1839 Jean-Luc Samyn, jockey in American thoroughbred racing See also Communes of the Nord department French Flanders References External links Official website Communes of Nord (French department) French Flanders