Douai, France

Capital City

With a population of just 40,250, Douai is a sleepy provincial town that offers little to excite the average expat. The city's economy is dominated by chemical and metal engineering, hardly the dynamic start-up hub many seek. And while Douai boasts an impressive Gothic belfry, the region's rainy oceanic climate is a persistent headache, with temperatures plunging to a bone-chilling -20°C in the winter. For those seeking a quiet, humdrum existence in northern France, Douai may fit the bill, but the city offers little to entice the adventurous or ambitious.