Despite the small area of the occupied territory, this country was able to afford three state languages at once. In Belgium, Dutch, German and French are accepted as official, and national minorities most often use the languages of the Roma, Manush and Yenish in everyday life.
Some statistics and facts
- Flemings make up almost 60% of the population of the Kingdom of Belgium and their official language is Dutch.
- Almost 40% of the inhabitants of Belgium are Walloons. They use French in everyday communication and as an official language.
- A small percentage of the population in the eastern part of the state is German-speaking. Their newspapers, radio and TV shows are in German.
- The Belgian Yenishi and Manush are none other than the Gypsies belonging to various western branches. Manush is a group of French-speaking Roma, and the Emishis speak a jargon close to Swiss German.
The Dutch and Flemish languages were officially equalized only in 1980. Until then, on the territory of Belgium, the state language was only French, although the Flemings always made up a larger percentage of the population. By the way, the Constitution of the country until 1967 also existed only in French.
About communities
A small percentage of the German-speaking Belgian population is concentrated on the border with Germany and Luxembourg in the province of Liege. You can feel especially comfortable here if you speak the language of Goethe and Schiller.
The Walloons, whose language is French, are concentrated in five southern provinces. They are united in the French community, while the Dutch speakers in the Flemish. The latter live mainly in the five northern provinces of the kingdom.
The Brussels-Capital Region is a territory where Dutch and French are equally coexisting.
Tourist notes
If you speak French, the vast majority of Belgians will understand you. You can read the names of public transport stops and find your way in road signs.
In Belgium, many of its citizens also speak English. The language of international communication is taught in schools and universities. Tourist Information Centers offer maps in English and directions to major attractions in Belgium. English speaking staff in hotels, restaurants and shops in tourist regions is the norm for the Kingdom of Belgium.
