Editing Hainaut Province

{{Short description|Province of Belgium}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields and descriptions -->| name               = Hainaut
| native_name        = {{native name|wa|Hinnot}}<br/>{{native name|pcd|Hénau}}
| native_name_lang   = <!-- ISO 639-2 code e.g. "fr" for French. If more than one, use {{lang}} instead -->
| other_name         = Heynowes
| settlement_type    = [[Provinces of Belgium|Province of Belgium]]
| image_flag         = Generieke vlag van Henegouwen.svg
| flag_size          = 120x80px
| image_shield       = Coat of arms of hainaut (with crown).png
| shield_size        = 100x90px
| coordinates        = {{Coord|region:BE-WHT_type:adm2nd|format=dms|display=title,inline}}
| image_map          = {{#property:P242}}
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = {{BEL}}
| subdivision_type1  = Region
| subdivision_name1  = {{BE-WAL}}
| seat_type          = Capital
| seat               = [[Mons, Belgium|Mons]]
| seat1_type         = Largest city
| seat1              = [[Charleroi]]
| leader_title       = Governor
| leader_name        = [[Tommy Leclercq]]
| area_total_km2     = 3813
| area_footnotes     = <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bestat.statbel.fgov.be/bestat/crosstable.xhtml?view=90c1e218-dc4f-4827-824d-9b25abfefe59|title=Be.STAT}}</ref>
| population_footnotes = <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://statbel.fgov.be/nl/themas/bevolking/structuur-van-de-bevolking|title = Structuur van de bevolking &#124; Statbel}}</ref>
| population_total   = 1,360,074
| population_as_of   = 1 January 2024
| population_density_km2 = auto
| demographics_type1 = GDP
| demographics1_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web | url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/tgs00003/default/table?lang=en | title=EU regions by GDP, Eurostat|access-date=18 September 2023}}</ref>
| demographics1_title1 = Total
| demographics1_info1 = €36.940 billion (2021)
| blank_name_sec2    = [[Human Development Index|HDI]] (2021)
| blank_info_sec2    = 0.893<ref name="GlobalDataLab">{{Cite web|title=Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab|url=https://globaldatalab.org/shdi/shdi/BEL/?levels=1%2B4&interpolation=1&extrapolation=0&nearest_real=0&years=2019}}</ref><br/>{{color|green|very high}} · [[List of Belgian provinces by Human Development Index|11th of 11]]
| iso_code           = BE-WHT
| website            = {{URL|{{#property:P856}}}}
| image_blank_emblem = Hainaut.svg
| blank_emblem_type  = [[Brandmark]]
| blank_emblem_size  = 120px
}}
[[File:Pays des Collines 73.jpg|275px|thumb|Pays des Collines]]

'''Hainaut''' ({{IPAc-en|eɪ|ˈ|n|oʊ}} {{respell|ay|NOH}}, <small>also</small> {{IPAc-en|US|h|eɪ|ˈ|-|,_|ɛ|ˈ|-}} {{respell|hay|-|,_|eh|-}}, {{IPAc-en|UK|ˈ|(|h|)|eɪ|n|oʊ}} {{respell|(H)AY|noh}};<ref>{{Cite American Heritage Dictionary|Hainaut|access-date=17 April 2019}}</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20190417164119/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/us/Hainaut "Hainaut"] (US) and {{Cite encyclopedia |url=http://www.lexico.com/definition/Hainaut |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200322182508/https://www.lexico.com/definition/hainaut |url-status=dead |archive-date=2020-03-22 |title=Hainaut |dictionary=[[Lexico]] UK English Dictionary |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite Merriam-Webster|Hainaut|access-date=17 April 2019}}</ref> {{IPA|fr|ɛno|lang|Hainaut-FR.wav}}; {{langx|nl|Henegouwen}} {{IPA|nl|ˈɦeːnəɣʌu.ə(n)||Nl-Henegouwen.ogg}}; {{langx|wa|Hinnot}}; {{langx|pcd|Hénau}}), historically also known as '''Heynault''' in English, is the westernmost [[Provinces of regions in Belgium|province]] of [[Wallonia]], the French-speaking region of [[Belgium]].

To its south lies the [[France|French]] department of [[Nord (French department)|Nord]], while within Belgium it borders (clockwise from the north) on the [[Flemish Region|Flemish]] provinces of [[West Flanders]], [[East Flanders]], [[Flemish Brabant]] and the Walloon provinces of [[Walloon Brabant]] and [[Namur Province|Namur]].

Its capital is [[Mons, Belgium|Mons]] (Dutch: ''Bergen'') and the most populous city is [[Charleroi]], the province's urban, economic and cultural hub, the financial capital of Hainaut and the [[List of cities in Belgium|fifth largest city in the country by population]]. Hainaut is one of the two only Belgian provinces whose capital is not its largest city; the other one is [[Walloon Brabant]]. Hainaut has an area of {{convert|3831|km2|abbr=on}} and as of January 2024 a population of over 1.36 million.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://statbel.fgov.be/nl/themas/bevolking/structuur-van-de-bevolking|title = Structuur van de bevolking &#124; Statbel}}</ref> Another notable city is [[Tournai]] (Dutch ''Doornik'') on the [[Scheldt]] river, one of the oldest cities in Belgium and the first capital of the [[Frankish Empire]].

Hainaut province has a rolling landscape, except for the very southern part, the so-called ''Boot of Hainaut'', which is quite hilly and belongs to the [[Ardennes]] and its foothills [[Fagne (natural region)|Fagne]] and the [[Condroz]].

The village of [[L'Escaillère]] in the utmost southeastern corner, at an altitude of 365 metres, is the highest point of the province.

In the Boot of Hainaut on the border of [[Namur Province|Namur province]] the artificial five [[Eau d'Heure lakes]] are situated, the largest lake area of Belgium.

A well-known region is the [[Borinage]], the old coal mining region around the city of Mons. Also well-known is the Pays des Collines (English: "Hill Country"), a low hilly area forming one natural region with the [[Flemish Ardennes]] in the East Flanders province.

== Language ==
In addition to the main language French, [[Picard language|Picard]] is spoken in the western and central parts of the province, while in the eastern part a mixture of Walloon and Picard is spoken (Wallo-Picard).

Some [[Flemish dialects|Flemish]] and [[Brabantic]] dialects of Dutch are spoken in the municipalities bordering the Flemish region.

==History==
{{See also|County of Hainaut}}
[[File:Carte du comté de Hainaut.jpg|thumb|Historical map of the County of Hainaut, with in red the current French-Belgian border.]]

The province derives from the French Revolutionary [[Jemmape (department)|Jemmape department]], formed in 1795 from part of the medieval [[County of Hainaut]], the small territory of [[Tournai and the Tournaisis]], a part of the [[county of Namur]] ([[Charleroi]]), and also a small part of the [[Prince-Bishopric of Liège]] ([[Thuin]]). (A large part of the historical county of Hainaut is now within France and sometimes referred to as [[French Hainaut]].)
{{clear left}}

== Subdivisions ==
Hainaut province is divided into 7 [[Arrondissements of Belgium|administrative districts (''arrondissements'')]], subdivided into a total of 69 municipalities. It has an area of {{Convert|3831|km2}}.

=== Arrondissements ===
<gallery>
Arrondissement Ath Belgium Map.png|[[Arrondissement of Ath|Ath]]
Arrondissement Charleroi Belgium Map.png|[[Arrondissement of Charleroi|Charleroi]]
Arrondissement La Louvière Belgium Map.png|[[Arrondissement of La Louvière|La Louvière]]
Arrondissement Mons Belgium Map.png|[[Arrondissement of Mons|Mons]]
Arrondissement Soignies Belgium Map.png|[[Arrondissement of Soignies|Soignies]]
Arrondissement Thuin Belgium Map.png|[[Arrondissement of Thuin|Thuin]]
Arrondissement Tournai-Mouscron Belgium Map.png|[[Arrondissement of Tournai-Mouscron|Tournai-Mouscron]]
</gallery>

=== Municipalities ===
[[File:Municipalities Hainaut Belgium Map - Number.svg|600px|right]]

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Map no.
! Municipality
! Arrondissement
|-
| 1
| [[Aiseau-Presles]]
| [[Arrondissement of Charleroi|Charleroi]]
|-
| 2
| [[Anderlues]]
| [[Arrondissement of Thuin|Thuin]]
|-
| 3
| [[Antoing]]
| [[Arrondissement of Tournai-Mouscron|Tournai-Mouscron]]
|-
| 4
| [[Ath]]
| [[Arrondissement of Ath|Ath]]
|-
| 5
| [[Beaumont, Belgium|Beaumont]]
| [[Arrondissement of Thuin|Thuin]]
|-
| 6
| [[Beloeil, Belgium|Belœil]]
| [[Arrondissement of Ath|Ath]]
|-
| 7
| [[Bernissart]]
| [[Arrondissement of Ath|Ath]]
|-
| 8
| [[Binche]]
| [[Arrondissement of La Louvière|La Louvière]]
|-
| 9
| [[Boussu]]
| [[Arrondissement of Mons|Mons]]
|-
| 10
| [[Braine-le-Comte]]
| [[Arrondissement of Soignies|Soignies]]
|-
| 11
| [[Brugelette]]
| [[Arrondissement of Ath|Ath]]
|-
| 12
| [[Brunehaut]]
| [[Arrondissement of Tournai-Mouscron|Tournai-Mouscron]]
|-
| 13
| [[Celles, Hainaut|Celles]]
| [[Arrondissement of Tournai-Mouscron|Tournai-Mouscron]]
|-
| 14
| [[Chapelle-lez-Herlaimont]]
| [[Arrondissement of Charleroi|Charleroi]]
|-
| 15
| [[Charleroi]]
| [[Arrondissement of Charleroi|Charleroi]]
|-
| 16
| [[Châtelet, Belgium|Châtelet]]
| [[Arrondissement of Charleroi|Charleroi]]
|-
| 17
| [[Chièvres]]
| [[Arrondissement of Ath|Ath]]
|-
| 18
| [[Chimay]]
| [[Arrondissement of Thuin|Thuin]]
|-
| 19
| [[Colfontaine]]
| [[Arrondissement of Mons|Mons]]
|-
| 20
| [[Comines-Warneton]]
| [[Arrondissement of Tournai-Mouscron|Tournai-Mouscron]]
|-
| 21
| [[Courcelles, Belgium|Courcelles]]
| [[Arrondissement of Charleroi|Charleroi]]
|-
| 22
| [[Dour, Belgium|Dour]]
| [[Arrondissement of Mons|Mons]]
|-
| 23
| [[Écaussinnes]]
| [[Arrondissement of Soignies|Soignies]]
|-
| 24
| [[Ellezelles]]
| [[Arrondissement of Ath|Ath]]
|-
| 25
| [[Enghien]]
| [[Arrondissement of Ath|Ath]]
|-
| 26
| [[Erquelinnes]]
| [[Arrondissement of Thuin|Thuin]]
|-
| 27
| [[Estaimpuis]]
| [[Arrondissement of Tournai-Mouscron|Tournai-Mouscron]]
|-
| 28
| [[Estinnes]]
| [[Arrondissement of La Louvière|La Louvière]]
|-
| 29
| [[Farciennes]]
| [[Arrondissement of Charleroi|Charleroi]]
|-
| 30
| [[Fleurus]]
| [[Arrondissement of Charleroi|Charleroi]]
|-
| 31
| [[Flobecq]]
| [[Arrondissement of Ath|Ath]]
|-
| 32
| [[Fontaine-l'Evêque]]
| [[Arrondissement of Charleroi|Charleroi]]
|-
| 33
| [[Frameries]]
| [[Arrondissement of Mons|Mons]]
|-
| 34
| [[Frasnes-lez-Anvaing]]
| [[Arrondissement of Ath|Ath]]
|-
| 35
| [[Froidchapelle]]
| [[Arrondissement of Thuin|Thuin]]
|-
| 36
| [[Gerpinnes]]
| [[Arrondissement of Charleroi|Charleroi]]
|-
| 37
| [[Ham-sur-Heure-Nalinnes]]
| [[Arrondissement of Thuin|Thuin]]
|-
| 38
| [[Hensies]]
| [[Arrondissement of Mons|Mons]]
|-
| 39
| [[Honnelles]]
| [[Arrondissement of Mons|Mons]]
|-
| 40
| [[Jurbise]]
| [[Arrondissement of Mons|Mons]]
|-
| 41
| [[La Louvière]]
| [[Arrondissement of La Louvière|La Louvière]]
|-
| 42
| [[Le Rœulx]]
| [[Arrondissement of Soignies|Soignies]]
|-
| 43
| [[Lens, Belgium|Lens]]
| [[Arrondissement of Mons|Mons]]
|-
| 44
| [[Les Bons Villers]]
| [[Arrondissement of Charleroi|Charleroi]]
|-
| 45
| [[Lessines]]
| [[Arrondissement of Ath|Ath]]
|-
| 46
| [[Leuze-en-Hainaut]]
| [[Arrondissement of Tournai-Mouscron|Tournai-Mouscron]]
|-
| 47
| [[Lobbes]]
| [[Arrondissement of Thuin|Thuin]]
|-
| 48
| [[Manage, Belgium|Manage]]
| [[Arrondissement of Soignies|Soignies]]
|-
| 49
| [[Merbes-le-Château]]
| [[Arrondissement of Thuin|Thuin]]
|-
| 50
| [[Momignies]]
| [[Arrondissement of Thuin|Thuin]]
|-
| 51
| [[Mons, Belgium|Mons]]
| [[Arrondissement of Mons|Mons]]
|-
| 52
| [[Mont-de-l'Enclus]]
| [[Arrondissement of Tournai-Mouscron|Tournai-Mouscron]]
|-
| 53
| [[Montigny-le-Tilleul]]
| [[Arrondissement of Charleroi|Charleroi]]
|-
| 54
| [[Morlanwelz]]
| [[Arrondissement of La Louvière|La Louvière]]
|-
| 55
| [[Mouscron]]
| [[Arrondissement of Tournai-Mouscron|Tournai-Mouscron]]
|-
| 56
| [[Pecq, Belgium|Pecq]]
| [[Arrondissement of Tournai-Mouscron|Tournai-Mouscron]]
|-
| 57
| [[Péruwelz]]
| [[Arrondissement of Tournai-Mouscron|Tournai-Mouscron]]
|-
| 58
| [[Pont-à-Celles]]
| [[Arrondissement of Charleroi|Charleroi]]
|-
| 59
| [[Quaregnon]]
| [[Arrondissement of Mons|Mons]]
|-
| 60
| [[Quévy]]
| [[Arrondissement of Mons|Mons]]
|-
| 61
| [[Quiévrain]]
| [[Arrondissement of Mons|Mons]]
|-
| 62
| [[Rumes]]
| [[Arrondissement of Tournai-Mouscron|Tournai-Mouscron]]
|-
| 63
| [[Saint-Ghislain]]
| [[Arrondissement of Mons|Mons]]
|-
| 64
| [[Seneffe]]
| [[Arrondissement of Soignies|Soignies]]
|-
| 65
| [[Silly, Belgium|Silly]]
| [[Arrondissement of Ath|Ath]]
|-
| 66
| [[Sivry-Rance]]
| [[Arrondissement of Thuin|Thuin]]
|-
| 67
| [[Soignies]]
| [[Arrondissement of Soignies|Soignies]]
|-
| 68
| [[Thuin]]
| [[Arrondissement of Thuin|Thuin]]
|-
| 69
| [[Tournai]]
| [[Arrondissement of Tournai-Mouscron|Tournai-Mouscron]]
|}

==Governors==
{{Columns-list|colwidth=30em|
* [[Jean-Baptiste Thorn]] (1836–1841)
* [[Charles Liedts]] (1841–1845)
* [[Édouard Mercier]] (1845–1847)
* [[Augustin Dumon-Dumortier]] (1847–1848)
* [[Adolphe de Vrière]] (1848–1849)
* [[Louis Troye]] (1849–1870)
* [[Joseph de Riquet de Caraman-Chimay]] (1870–1878)
* [[Auguste Wanderpepen]] (1878)
* [[Oswald de Kerchove de Denterghem]] (1878–1884)
* [[Auguste Vergote]] (1884–1885)
* [[Joseph d'Ursel]] (1885–1889)
* [[Charles d'Ursel]] (1889–1893)
* [[Raoul du Sart de Bouland]] (1893–1908)
* [[Maurice Damoiseaux]] (1908–1937)
* [[Henri Van Mol]] (1937–1940)
* [[Émile Cornez]] (1944–1967)
* [[Emilien Vaes]] (1967–1983)
* [[Michel Tromont]] (1983–2004)
* [[Claude Durieux]] (2004–2013)
* [[Tommy Leclercq]] (2013–present)
}}

== Economy ==
The [[gross domestic product]] (GDP) of the province was €34.2 billion in 2018, accounting for 7.4% of Belgium's economic output. GDP per capita adjusted for purchasing power was €22,500 or 75% of the EU27 average in the same year. Hainaut is the province with the second lowest GDP per capita.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/2995521/10474907/1-05032020-AP-EN.pdf/81807e19-e4c8-2e53-c98a-933f5bf30f58|title=Regional GDP per capita ranged from 30% to 263% of the EU average in 2018|website=Eurostat}}</ref>

==Miscellaneous==
The [[patron saint]] of the province Hainaut is [[Waltrude|Saint Waltrude]].<ref>[http://saints.sqpn.com/saint-waltrude/ St. Waltrude at saints.sqpn.com]. Retrieved 26.March 2013.</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.hainaut.be/ Official web site of the Hainaut province] {{In lang|fr}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20040615132429/http://hainaut.wallonie.be/ Official gateway to the Hainaut] {{In lang|fr}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20051119094148/http://hainaut.wallonie.be/spip/rubrique.php3?id_rubrique=32] {{In lang|nl}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050211175225/http://www.ccic.be/ The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Hainaut] {{In lang|fr|en}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050210235707/http://www.eichainaut.be/ Euro Info Centre Hainaut] {{In lang|fr}}
* [http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_your_park/historical_signs/hs_historical_sign.php?id=12796 Walloon Settlers Monument]

{{Subdivisions of Belgium}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hainaut (Province)}}
[[Category:Hainaut (province)| ]]
[[Category:Provinces of Wallonia]]