Belgium is the political center of Europe, and the country has several official and spoken languages. More than half of Belgians are bilingual. So why? Find out why multilingualism is a great asset in Belgium. In this article, we will answer these questions and look at the relationships between Belgium's different languages.
Belgium, a small country with three official languages
Belgium is located on the North Sea and shares borders with the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, and France. Brussels, the capital of Belgium, is also the political capital of Europe since 1997, when it became the headquarters of the European Union.
Although Belgium is a small country on the world map, it has three official languages: Dutch, French, and German, as well as several regional languages. Flemish people are often multilingual, which makes them in high demand on the international labor market. Belgium is divided into linguistic regions, and some municipalities require all communication to take place in more than one language.
The most spoken language in Belgium is Dutch, followed by French and German. Walloon is spoken in the Wallonia region (with some variations and dialects), and West Flemish, East Flemish, and Limburg are examples of the many Flemish dialects. Flemish is not an official language, but a regional variation. Each dialect helps make Belgian-Dutch colorful and unique.
From linguistic history to modern language use
French
Because Belgium was under French rule, French was once the main language spoken in Belgium. In the 18th century, French was even the collective language, education was conducted exclusively in French, and all public acts were written in French.
French is currently the second most spoken language in Belgium. It is used in education in French society and is the dominant language in Wallonia. French is also spoken in the capital, Brussels, with just over half of the population speaking it as their mother tongue or lingua franca.
dutch
Belgium then became part of the Netherlands, and the regime tried to declare Dutch as the only language. This failed after Belgian independence in 1830. For many years, French continued to be the language of education, but this changed only in the late 19th and early 20th centuries following protracted conflicts and language issues.
Currently, in Belgium, Dutch is the official language in Flanders, and in Brussels, the capital area, Dutch is the official language along with French.
german
After World War II, a German-speaking community also developed. As compensation for World War I, Germany gave the eastern provinces to Belgium. German is currently a minority language in Belgium, with only 0.7% of the population speaking it as a mother tongue.
Languages spoken in Belgium by linguistic region
You can speak any language in Belgium. This freedom of speech is also enshrined in the Constitution. In fact, the three official languages, Dutch, French, and German, are spoken in four defined language areas: Dutch-speaking, Francophone, German-speaking, and the bilingual metropolitan area of Brussels. Each of these areas has special rules regarding the use of language in official situations.
In some cases, neighboring municipalities in the language area are facility municipalities. These municipalities also need to provide services in the language that residents prefer. This arrangement is often the subject of controversy between Dutch and French speakers in Belgium.
Language in urban and municipal communication
The Administrative Language Act regulates the use of languages in Belgian cities, municipalities, cantons and federal government departments. A municipality or town recognized as a tourism center must provide tourism communications in at least three languages.
Special rules also apply to the printing of marital status certificates. Belgians can refer to a unified multilingual form for this purpose. Multilingual excerpts will no longer require translation or legalization between signatory countries.
Dutch and French education
The language used in a school depends on the official language of the region where the school is located. This applies to all subjects except language subjects. In Brussels, students choose between Dutch-speaking and French-speaking education. There are exceptions in some municipalities, and universities are now teaching more subjects in English, the language popular with international companies.
In Flanders, Dutch is used in schools. French classes are taught in French, English classes in English, while general subjects are taught in Dutch. French is the official language in Wallonia. In Brussels, schools offer a choice between Dutch and French.
Belgian audio film language
All movies (except comics) are in English, but with Flemish subtitles. English songs and singers dominate the charts. However, recently the Dutch language has regained popularity in the music world.
In Wallonia, almost all films are dubbed in French. Walloons are proud of their French language.
Multilingualism is complex in Belgium. To support multilingual communication in Belgium, we offer professional translation services (legal translation, commercial translation, medical translation, etc.) in a wide range of languages, including Dutch, French, German and English. Please contact us for details. .
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Frequently asked questions about the language of Belgium
Brussels is the only bilingual region in Belgium, where both Dutch and French are spoken. However, Brussels is also the capital of Belgium and Europe, making it a multicultural metropolis. Of the more than 1 million inhabitants, 30% are non-Belgian. Brussels is officially bilingual, but in reality it has long been multilingual. The Flemish minority who lives there, as well as the many commuters who come from Flanders every day to work, must be able to speak their language.
It depends on your native language. Dutch is a particularly easy language to learn for English speakers. However, some words can be difficult, such as complex words made up of many consonants, such as “angstschreeuw” or “slechtsschrijvend.”
Rather, Flemish is an umbrella term for all kinds of dialects in the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium. Dutch is one of Belgium's official languages, along with French and German. The Flemish government decided which areas would use the Dutch language. So the government is talking about “Dutch” rather than, say, Dutch. “Flemish”. But there is a “Flemish society” or a “Flemish parliament”.
