Douai (;
Dutch:
Dowaai) is a
commune in the
Nord département in northern France. It is a
sub-prefecture of the department. Located on the river
Scarpe some from
Lille and from
Arras, Douai is home to one of the region's most impressive
belfries. The population of the metropolitan area, including
Lens, was 552,682 in 1999.