What language is spoken in Belgium?

Unlike most countries, Belgium has 3 official languages. Let’s see when and how to use each of them!

Angelina

3 minute read

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Updated on 19 Sep 2024

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Living

Throughout history, Belgium’s been largely influenced by its neighbours the Netherlands, France, and Germany. So much so that Belgium has 3 official languages and even has different parliaments that cater to each region and lingual group!

And while hearing a mix of the many languages and sub-dialects in the air might get a tad confusing - fear not! We’re here to guide you through the languages spoken in Belgium and whether you need to learn them as an expat.

First of all, let’s make it clear; there is no ‘Belgian language.’

Belgium has 3 official languages: Dutch, French and German. The language locals speak depends on the region where you are. So, when moving to Belgium you don't have to learn all the official languages (phew!). But it would certainly help to know the language of the Belgian city you'll call home if you want to fit in or get jobs easily. The most popular language spoken in Belgium is Dutch. About 58% of Belgians speak Dutch while 40% speak French.

Why is Belgium so divided? Take a quick dive into Belgium's history.

Dutch (Flemish)

Dutch is the official language of the Flanders region and one of the official languages of the Brussels-Capital Region.

Roughly, 60% of Belgians speak Dutch as their first language.

Even though standard Dutch is the official language, the majority of the Flemish community speaks the Flemish dialect. That’s right, Dutch in the Netherlands and ‘Flemish’ aren’t exactly the same.

Generally, Dutch and Belgian can understand each other, even though there’re certain differences in pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary, and idioms. These differences are amplified by the sub-dialects in the Flanders region. Depending on where you’re, you can expect to hear Brabantian, East Flemish, West Flemish and Limburgish.

French

French is the second most spoken language in Belgium and is the official language of the French-speaking community in Wallonia and Brussels.

Around 40% of the Belgian population speak French or its dialects as their first language.

Due to Belgium's complex history, French has managed to retain a certain level of prestige and remains the main language spoken among the Belgian heavyweights.

The pronunciation will differ from your usual French. But if you’re a fluent French speaker, you’ll get a hang of it in no time. But if you hear one of the dwindling dialects — Walloon, Picard, Lorrain, and Champenois — you’ll also notice some differences in grammar and vocabulary.

German

The German-speaking community (Ostbelgien) is the youngest federal entity in Belgium which only became part of Belgium after World War I. Since they had less time to evolve independently, their language is pretty much the same as you’d hear in Germany.

The German-speaking community comprises less than 1% of the Belgian population which is roughly 75,000 people.

Illustration by Victoria Fernandez.

Belgium ranks 6th out of 112 countries in the world for its English language proficiency.

Around 55% of the Belgian population can speak English on a conversational level.

Generally, the language barrier is way steeper in Wallonia than in Flanders, where almost half of the population can converse in basic English.

About 33% of Brussels residents speak English fluently.

Brussels is a melting pot of cultures and English is widely understood, thanks to the many diplomats and internationals who call Brussels their home. It’s also pretty normal to use English as a common ground for Dutch and French speakers if they don’t speak each other’s languages. So if you don’t know what language to use, it's a safe call to start a conversation in English.

Although most of the residents in Brussels are francophones, Brussels is officially bilingual, with street signs in both French and Dutch. In recent years, there have been calls to make English one of the official languages in Brussels as more a than third of the population speaks English and most jobs often require people to be proficient in English.

Yes, you should, especially if you plan to settle in Belgium for a longer time. Knowing the official language of the Belgian city where you live will make you feel more comfortable, integrated and at home.

But of course, if you live in an international city like Brussels and have a job in your pocket or you’re staying for a relatively short time, you can get by just speaking English.

Keep in mind that documents in Belgium are issued in the official languages of the area where you reside. Lucky for expats, most of the government websites are available in the English language too. But unfortunately, it’s not all that simple.

In most of the town halls, civil servants will refuse to speak English to you because they aren’t legally obliged to do so. So if you’re not well-versed in the local language, it’s a good idea to go to appointments, such as for your address registration, with someone who can translate things for you.

At the same time, in social life, it’s the effort that counts. Belgians will often appreciate you trying to speak their language and treat you with similar respect and friendliness. But be careful not to be rude,

don’t try to talk to a Wallonian person in Dutch or visa-versa.

Definitely. If you want to work for a Belgian company you normally have to speak French or Dutch and often even both languages.

Despite the generally high English proficiency,

not knowing one of Belgium’s official languages is the main obstacle to finding a job there.

It’s possible to find an English-speaking job in Belgium but it won’t be easy. If that’s what you’re after, large multinational companies are your best bet.

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