Hainaut
Industrial province of southwest Belgium, part of the French-speaking community and Walloon region, bounded to the south by France and the Belgian provinces of East and West Flanders, Flemish and Walloon Brabant, and Namur; area 3,800 sq km/1,467 sq mi; population (2003 est) 1,284,700. The capital is Mons, and other major towns include Charleroi, Tournai, and Soignies. The rivers Schelde and Sambre pass through the province.
History
The old county of Hainaut was created in the late 9th century, and was united several times with Flanders. In 1433 it came under the rule of Burgundy, in 1477 under that of Austria, and in 1555 under that of Spain. In the 17th century parts of it were acquired by France. It fell once again under Austrian rule in 1714, was incorporated into the kingdom of the Netherlands in 1815, and eventually became a Belgian province in 1830.
Economy It became one of the earliest industrialized regions of Europe when the coalfields of the Borinage (the coal-mining district of Belgium) began to be exploited. The coal seams, however, became economically unexploitable in the 1960s. Despite government subsidies aimed at converting the economy, widespread unemployment and general economic stagnation of the region has been only slightly reduced. The chief industries are chemicals, electrical equipment, glass, and textiles. Fertile arable land in the north produces wheat, sugar beet, barley, and oilseed rape. Cattle raising is also a major occupation. |
