Presentation of the Hauts-de-France Region

The northernmost region of France, Hauts-de-France, whose capital is the city of Lille, was created on January 1, 2016 by the meeting of the former Nord-Pas-de-Calais and Picardy regions. Characterized by low relief and made up of the departments of Aisne, Nord, Oise, Pas-de-Calais and Somme, the region whose main urban areas are those of Lille – Roubaix – Tourcoing, Douai – Lens, Béthune, Valenciennes, Amiens and Dunkirk have a large population mainly concentrated in the north-east, at the level of the former mining basin. With 6,006,156 inhabitants and a population density of 189 inhabitants/km2, it represents the 3rd most populated region in the country and the 2nd most densely populated in mainland France after Île-de-France.

The Hauts-de-France region enjoys a privileged geographical position in Europe. At the crossroads between France, Benelux and England, the region offers direct access to 5 European capitals: Paris, Brussels, Luxembourg, London and Amsterdam. From Hauts-de-France, you can access a huge market in 3 hours. Within a radius of 300 km, you reach 78 million consumers, or a quarter of the European population. This market, which extends over 6 countries (France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, England and Germany), represents a purchasing power of 1,500 billion euros. From a logistical point of view, the geographical location of Hauts-de-France facilitates the shipping of goods to your consumption areas. In addition, the Hauts-de-France territory has another advantage: its maritime facade. Dunkirk and Calais both rank in the top 5 French cargo ports. The region is also very close to other major European ports such as Dover or Rotterdam.