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the Brussel Antwerpen divide

Reader comment on item: Muslim Populations in European Cities

Submitted by myth (Germany), Jan 25, 2010 at 12:42

To me Brussels having three times the percentage of Antwerpen is the most striking fact. Antwerpen is 45km north of Brussel. This pair on the small scale violates the north-south rule. Here's a special case. Both cities are traditionally roman catholic, as opposed to the Netherlands north of the big rivers. However Brussel today is french speaking in the city center, it is on the language border, and Antwerpen is flemish-dutch. The larger number of muslims in Belgium are from North-Africa and most of them also speak french as 2nd language anyway. That accounts for the fact that more are in Brussel. Or is it the opposite ? Brussel originally is in the flemish-speaking part. Today the city center speaks french. Maybe this is because of the immigrants contribution. The french-speaking part in order to increase political influence over the richer flemish part seems to accomodate this.

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Reader comments (17) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
europeans had better convert to islam [22 words]pniniSep 14, 2012 00:53198607
europeans had better 'converted to isalm [25 words]pniniSep 14, 2012 00:46198606
Muslimische Bevölkerung auch etwas südlicher [30 words]SelcukJul 22, 2012 04:22197352
the Brussel Antwerpen divide [147 words]mythJan 25, 2010 12:42167896
why "other than Marseilles, they are all northerly." protestant-catholic divide ? [153 words]mythJan 25, 2010 12:33167894
Not really reliable statistics [114 words]DurendalJan 13, 2008 21:33118098
Mosque attendance and flippant maths [270 words]bosJan 14, 2008 09:12118098
Interesting [9 words]MysticSaintJan 2, 2008 00:43117316
incomplete survey [234 words]Rebecca MouldsDec 31, 2007 21:10117249
Stop Illegal Immigration here in Amercia [104 words]Barbara FreemanDec 31, 2007 12:48117224
2Prevention is better than cure! [681 words]Nick4693Dec 30, 2007 19:00117157
Well Done Nick4693. [722 words]Maura Collins.Dec 31, 2007 07:31117157
Wake up !!! [67 words]danaAug 27, 2008 14:00117157
Why Muslims go North [23 words]Irish SavantDec 30, 2007 16:32117143
But what does it really mean? [77 words]AndrewDec 30, 2007 14:01117133
1Yes, Muslims have changed US culture [424 words]MaryAnne EvansDec 31, 2007 14:54117133
Poor comments [140 words]TahaApr 8, 2010 18:22117133

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