What are Germans in Belgium called?
Deutschsprachige Gemeinschaft
German-speaking Community of Belgium
German-speaking Community Deutschsprachige Gemeinschaft (German) Communauté germanophone (French) Duitstalige Gemeenschap (Dutch) | |
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Community of Belgium | |
Flag Coat of arms | |
Country | Belgium |
Region | Wallonia |
Why do they speak German in Belgium?
While the official use of Flemish Dutch and French in Belgium date back centuries, German is a comparative newcomer. The German-speaking part of Belgium only became part of the Kingdom as a result of the Treaty of Versailles, at the end of World War I, when it was ceded to Belgium by the former German Empire.
What is the French part of Belgium called?
Wallonia
Wallonia, French Wallonie, formally Walloon Region, French Région Wallonne, region that constitutes the southern half of Belgium. The self-governing Walloon Region was created during the federalization of Belgium, largely along ethnolinguistic lines, in the 1980s and ’90s.
How many francophones are there in Belgium?
The French Community of Belgium includes 4.5 million people, of whom: 3.6 million live in the Walloon Region (that is almost the entirety of the inhabitants of this region, apart from people who live in the German-speaking communes, who number around 70,000);
Is Alsace French or German?
Alsace is not Germany, but not quite France either Even though Alsace is part of France, it is sometimes perceived as a cultural exception, in part due to its long periods spent under German influence. In 1871, Alsace was annexed to the new German Empire following its victory in the Franco-Prussian War.
What religion is in Belgium?
Roman Catholic
Religion. The majority of Belgians are Roman Catholic, but regular attendance at religious services is variable. Although it is marked in the Flemish region and the Ardennes, regular attendance at church has decreased in the Walloon industrial region and in Brussels, and nearly one-third of Belgians are nonreligious.
Are Belgians Dutch?
Dutch is the majority language in northern Belgium, being spoken natively by three-fifths of the population of Belgium. It is one of the three national languages of Belgium, together with French and German, and is the only official language of the Flemish Region.
Why do Belgian speak French?
The tension between the two regions only got more intense after Belgium gained independence in 1830 from the Netherlands. French became the official language, which highlighted existing class tensions between the nobility (who generally spoke French) and the Flemish (who were seen as lower-class).
Do they speak German in Alsace?
Elsasserditsch is the German dialect spoken in Alsace, while Lothringer Platt (or Francique) is spoken in the Moselle province of Lorraine, especially around the town Thionville. The written form of these dialects is High German. The total population of Alsace was 1.9 million in 2014 and that of Lorraine 2.3 million.
What is Alsace famous for?
Alsace is one of the most beautiful regions in France. It is known for its Christmas markets, its castles, its wine road and its proximity to Germany. It is also known for its high-quality gastronomy, especially its sauerkraut, its Flammekueche, and its white wines.