What Languages are spoken in Belgium?

This topic often causes confusion. It can generally be very simplified: Belgium lies between the Netherlands in the north and France in the south. The language border between Dutch and French runs horizontally through the centre of Belgium. The capital Brussels, in the centre of the country, is bilingual.

Capital (Brussels): Belgian French and Belgian Dutch

As the Belgian capital, centrally located in Belgium, Brussels (1.2 million inhabitants) is officially bilingual. Around 80% use Belgian French in everyday life, 20% Belgian Dutch.

North Belgium (Flanders): Belgian Dutch

Flanders (6.8 million inhabitants), the northern region of Belgium, predominantly speaks Dutch. However, the variety spoken there, Belgian Dutch, differs from Standard Dutch in pronunciation, vocabulary, and some grammatical aspects.

One key difference is pronunciation – Belgian Dutch is softer and more melodic than the Dutch spoken in the Netherlands. In addition, many words differ. French and local dialects have influenced Belgian Dutch vocabulary and expressions. Grammar remains largely the same, but some sentence structures and informal speech patterns differ.

Despite these variations, Belgian and Dutch speakers understand each other well.

Belgian Dutch is often misleadingly called Flemish (Vlaams). In the narrower linguistic sense, however, “Flemish” only refers to the two dialects of West Flemish and East Flemish.

South Belgium (Wallonia): Belgian French

In Wallonia (3.7 million inhabitants), the southern region of Belgium, French is the dominant language. While largely similar to Standard French, Belgian French has unique vocabulary, pronunciation, and historical influences.

Pronunciation differences are minor but noticeable. Belgian French is clearer and slower, sometimes with a slight melodic intonation. A key distinction is in vocabulary. Some words in Belgian French come from Walloon, a historic Romance language spoken in the region, as well as from Dutch influences.

Despite variations, mutual comprehension between Belgian and French speakers is seamless.

East Belgium: German

East Belgium (80,000 inhabitants), known as the German-speaking Community of Belgium, consists of a small but distinct population of German speakers.

The German spoken in East Belgium is very close to Standard German but has some regional dialectal influences. The local dialects, collectively called Ripuarian and Moselle Franconian, are linguistically distinct from Standard German and share features with dialects spoken in western Germany.

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Belgium: small Country with enormous Variety

Large countries are characterized by their diverse landscapes and cities with distinct personalities. Belgium, however, is small: driving from north to south (Antwerp to Arlon) takes about 2.75 hours, while crossing from east to west (Eupen to Ostend) takes roughly 2.5 hours.

Despite its compact size of 30,000 square kilometers, Belgium offers an extraordinary variety: from fine sandy beaches along the North Sea coast, through the flat but water-rich region of Flanders, to the rolling hills of Wallonia, which are carved by deep river valleys.

Belgium has it all: vibrant metropolises like Brussels and Antwerp, museum-like art cities such as Bruges and Ghent, different types of coastal towns like Ostend and De Haan, thrilling industrial cities like Liège and Charleroi, and picturesque fortress towns like Dinant and Bouillon.

Of course, the diversity of Belgium is largely shaped by its two main regions: Flanders in the north and Wallonia in the south. Dutch (Belgian Dutch, which differs not only in the softer pronunciation) is spoken in Flanders, while French is the language in Wallonia. Near the German border, there is even a small German-speaking community, Ostbelgien (Eastern Belgium).

The appearance of Flanders and Wallonia is different, but with a few exceptions you can always recognise that you are in Belgium. Flanders does not look like the Netherlands, nor does Wallonia resemble France.

In fact, some neighboring cities in other countries exhibit Belgian influences, particularly Maastricht (Netherlands), Aachen (Germany), and Lille (France).

Now, let’s take a tour of seven cities. As a reference: driving through all seven city centers takes a total of 5 hours, covering a distance of 300 kilometers.

Ostend

With a population of 70,000, Ostend is the largest Belgian coastal city and serves as a major transport hub, connecting the main railway line (Cologne – Aachen -) Liège – Leuven – Brussels – Ghent – Bruges – Ostend with the coastal tramway. Despite its compact size, Ostend feels very metropolitan. In addition to its wide sandy beaches, the city offers a wealth of entertainment: excellent shopping, cozy cafés, outstanding restaurants, museums, a casino, and more. Tip: If Ostend feels too busy or built-up, take a 20-minute drive to the beautiful Belle Époque coastal town of De Haan.

Bruges

After a 30-minute drive, we reach Bruges. There’s little need to introduce this jewel of a city with 120,000 inhabitants: an absolutely perfect, living open-air museum with stunning churches, art treasures, picturesque squares, canals, and winding streets. While Bruges is very crowded in summer, it is very romantic in the other seasons.

Antwerp

After an 80-minute drive, we arrive in Antwerp (skipping over the must-see city of Ghent to keep this tour concise). Antwerp is a stunning Flemish metropolis of 530,000 residents, reknown for its huge port and its art and fashion scene. Lovers of Flemish culture, art, architecture, fashion and shopping will be delighted with what this city has to offer.

Brussels

An hour later, we reach Brussels, the bilingual heart of Belgium – an enclave within Flanders, close to the Walloon border. With a population of 1.2 million, Brussels is a metropolis that feels even larger and more urban due to its capital status. It boasts grand historical buildings, large churches, colossal palaces, royal museums, an awe-inspiring triumphal arch, the Atomium, Art Nouveau neighborhoods, and much more – everything a proud capital should have. However, Brussels is also affected by the decline seen in many European cities.

Charleroi

Shortly after leaving Brussels, we enter Wallonia. An hour later, we arrive in Charleroi, the largest city in Wallonia with 200,000 residents. Once a thriving industrial hub, Charleroi is not your typical tourist destination – it is, in most areas, run-down and even considered ugly, but that’s precisely what makes it famous. It attracts adventurous visitors interested in industrial history, urban art, and urban exploration.

Namur

Thirty minutes later, we find ourselves in a completely different world: the elegant Walloon capital of Namur, home to 110,000 people. Located at the confluence of the Meuse and Sambre rivers, Namur features a large fortress atop a hill, accessible by foot, cable car, or car. From there, visitors can enjoy beautiful views of the rivers, the historic city center, and the Meuse Valley. The city itself is filled with charming squares, inviting cafés, excellent restaurants, and stylish boutiques. It has a distinct southern European flair.

Dinant

Continuing through the lovely Meuse Valley, passing green mountains and fascinating rock formations, we reach our final destination: Dinant. This small town of 13,000 people is the postcard image of Wallonia: a river, a bridge, colorful houses, a grand church, and a massive rock formation crowned with a citadel. Tip: For those interested, a 20-minute drive along the Meuse River leads into France.

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