Wasquehal (traditional pronunciation [wakal]; currently common pronunciation [waskal]) is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.

The town originally had a Flemish name; it was written as Waskenhal in the 11th century.

Geography

Wasquehal has an area of 6.86 km (2.65 sq mi) and a population density of 2,702.8/km.

Héraldique

Arms of Wasquehal

The arms of Wasquehal are blazoned : Chequy argent and gules, each argent piece charged with an ermine spot sable. or, more simply, Chequy ermine and gules.

Population

Historical population

Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1793 1,440 —     1800 1,262 −1.87% 1806 1,525 +3.21% 1821 1,622 +0.41% 1831 1,590 −0.20% 1836 1,672 +1.01% 1841 1,758 +1.01% 1846 2,034 +2.96% 1851 2,040 +0.06% 1856 2,200 +1.52% 1861 2,501 +2.60% 1866 2,731 +1.78% 1872 2,824 +0.56% 1876 3,061 +2.04% 1881 3,275 +1.36% 1886 3,688 +2.40% 1891 4,405 +3.62% 1896 4,901 +2.16%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1901 5,969 +4.02% 1906 6,703 +2.35% 1911 7,011 +0.90% 1921 7,041 +0.04% 1926 8,507 +3.86% 1931 11,707 +6.59% 1936 12,167 +0.77% 1946 11,741 −0.36% 1954 12,363 +0.65% 1962 13,634 +1.23% 1968 14,274 +0.77% 1975 16,391 +2.00% 1982 16,275 −0.10% 1990 17,986 +1.26% 1999 18,541 +0.34% 2007 18,989 +0.30% 2012 20,536 +1.58% 2017 20,479 −0.06%
Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org.
Source: EHESS and INSEE (1968-2017)

Sport

Wasquehal hosted the finish of stage 4 of the 1989 Tour de France, won by Jelle Nijdam, and the finish of stage 5 the 1992 Tour de France, won by Guido Bontempi. The third stage of the 2004 Tour de France also finished in Wasquehal. Jean-Patrick Nazon won the mass sprint ahead of Erik Zabel and Robbie McEwen. Wasquehal also hosted the start of stage 7 of the 1988 Tour de France, and the start of stage 3 of the 1996 Tour de France.

Twin towns – sister cities

Wasquehal is twinned with:

• Beyne-Heusay, Belgium

See also

• ES Wasquehal
• Communes of the Nord department