The language border separating the Germanic and Romance Sprachräume moved over the centuries which preceded the establishment of the Belgian state over an area between the Ardennes and the more or less straight line going from Aachen to Calais on the one hand and the much less populated frontier from Aachen to Arlon via Malmedy. However, this frontier has not much changed since the 18th century.[20] For example, in the communes of Mouscron-Comines-Warneton, French seems to be dominant at least since 1761.[21] The frontier splitting the older province of Brabant and the Hesbaye moved regularly during the 17th and 18th centuries.