Nord-Pas-de-Calais

Demographics

While the region is predominately French-speaking, it also has two significant minority language communities: the western Flemings, whose presence is evident in the many Flemish placenames in the area and who speak the West Flemish language, and the Picards, who speak the Picard language. In addition, the region's ethnic diversity has been affected by repeated waves of immigrant workers from abroad - Belgians before 1910, Poles and Italians in the 1920s and 1930s, and North Africans since 1945.

Related Topics:
Minority language - Flemings - West Flemish - Picard language - Belgians - 1910 - Poles - Italians - 1920s - 1930s - 1945

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The French state has also sought to boost the region's relatively neglected culture; in 2004, it was announced that a branch of the Louvre would be opened in the city of Lens.

Related Topics:
2004 - Louvre

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