Hainaut Province

Hainaut is a province located in Wallonia, which is the French-speaking region of Belgium.

It sits at the westernmost edge of this region. To its south, the province borders the French department of Nord. Within Belgium, Hainaut shares borders with several other provinces. To the north, it touches West Flanders, East Flanders, and Flemish Brabant. It also borders the Walloon provinces of Walloon Brabant and Namur. As of January 2024, the province has a population exceeding 1.36 million people.

The geography of Hainaut is characterized by a variety of landscapes. Much of the province features a rolling landscape with gentle hills. One notable area is the Pays des Collines, known in English as the Hill Country.

This region forms a natural connection with the Flemish Ardennes in East Flanders. The southern part of the province is much more rugged. This area is called the Boot of Hainaut. It is part of the Ardennes and its foothills, specifically the Fagne and the Condroz. The highest point in the province is located at the village of L'Escaillère. This spot reaches an altitude of 365 metres.

Water features play an important role in the southern landscape of the province. In the Boot of Hainaut, near the border with Namur, you will find the Eau d'Heure lakes. These are five artificial lakes that make up the largest lake area in Belgium. Another important waterway is the Scheldt river. The city of Tournai sits along the banks of this river.

Tournai is one of the oldest cities in Belgium. It even served as the first capital of the Frankish Empire.

The history of Hainaut is tied to many different medieval territories. The modern province derives from the Jemmape department. This department was formed in 1795 during the French Revolution. It was created from parts of the medieval County of Hainaut. It also included the territory of Tournai and the Tournaisis. Additionally, parts of the County of Namur and the Prince-Bishopric of Liège were included. It is important to note that much of the historical County of Hainaut is now located within France. This area is sometimes referred to as French Hainaut.

Hainaut is organized into several administrative layers to manage its 69 municipalities. These municipalities are grouped into 7 administrative districts, known as arrondissements.

The province has two distinct major cities. Mons serves as the official capital of Hainaut. However, Mons is not the largest city in the province. Charleroi is the most populous city and serves as the economic and cultural hub. Charleroi is also the financial capital of the province. It ranks as the fifth largest city in Belgium by population.

The economy and culture of the province are shaped by its local industries and languages. The Borinage is a well-known region located around the city of Mons. This area is famous for its history of coal mining. Economically, the province has a significant impact on the country. In 2018, the gross domestic product (GDP) of Hainaut was €34.2 billion. This amount accounted for 7.4% of the total economic output of Belgium. However, the GDP per capita was €22,500 in 2018. This figure was 75% of the EU27 average. Hainaut has the second lowest GDP per capita among Belgian provinces.

Language use in Hainaut shows how different cultures have met in this region. While French is the main language, other dialects are common. In the western and central parts, people speak Picard. In the eastern parts, a mixture called Wallo-Picard is spoken. This is a blend of Walloon and Picard. Near the borders of the Flemish region, some people speak Flemish or Brabantic dialects of Dutch. This linguistic variety reflects the province's position near different cultural zones. The patron saint of the province is Saint Waltrude.