Belgian culture involves both the aspects shared by all Belgians regardless of the language they speak and the differences between the main cultural communities: the Dutch-speaking Belgians (Flemish) and the French-speaking Belgians (mostly Brussels and Walloon people). Most Belgians view their culture as an integral part of European culture. The territory corresponding to present-day Belgium
What languages are spoken in the Kingdom of Belgium?
The Kingdom of Belgium has three official languages: Dutch, French, and German. A number of non-official, minority languages and dialects are spoken as well.
What percentage of the population of Belgium speak a foreign language?
Of the inhabitants of Belgium, roughly 59% belong to the Flemish Community, 40% to the French Community and 1% to the German-speaking Community, though these figures relating to official Belgian languages include unknown numbers of immigrants and their children speaking a foreign language as primary language,
When did Dutch become an official language in Belgium?
The Law of Equality (also called the Coremans-De Vriendt Law) was passed in April 1898, almost 70 years after Belgian independence. This, and the linguistic reforms that followed, began to turn the tide for the status of Dutch as an official Belgian language.
How similar is the French spoken in Belgium to French in France?
The French spoken in Belgium is largely similar to that spoken in France, though there are distinct differences in vocabulary and pronunciation, just as there are between Flemish Dutch and Standard Dutch.
What language does Belgium mainly speak?
The primary language in Belgium is Dutch, spoken by approximately 60% of the population. The Flemish dialect is almost identical to the Dutch spoken across the border in the Netherlands, but some differences in vocabulary have led some to refer to the language colloquially as ‘Flemish’.
Is English spoken in Belgium?
Based on these three regions, Belgium has three official languages – English, Dutch, and French. English is however not the primary language of the country. But even if it is not, a large percentage of the population speaks the English language. As such, you can speak it in different situations all over Belgium.
Why does Belgium have 3 languages?
Historically speaking, the country has had quite a wide variety of rulers, influencing how multilingual and multicultural Belgians are today. Due to their close proximity to these three countries, they have three official languages that divide Belgium into three main regions.
What nationality does Belgium speak?
Belgium
| Kingdom of Belgium Koninkrijk België (Dutch) Royaume de Belgique (French) Königreich Belgien (German) | |
|---|---|
| Official languages | Dutch French German |
| Ethnic groups (2020) | 67.3% Belgians 32.7% Others |
| Religion (2019) | 60% Christianity —54% Roman Catholic —6% Other Christian 31% No religion 7% Islam 2% Others |
| Demonym(s) | Belgian |
How do you say hello in Belgium?
Most people in Belgium speak French, with a small portion of the Belgian population speaking Dutch (Flemish).
Belgian Phrases.
| Hello: Salut | Pronounced: Sal oo |
|---|---|
| Good Evening: Bonsoir | Pronounced: Bon swar |
| Good Morning/Afternoon: Bonjor | Pronounced: Bon jor |
| Thank You: Merci | Pronounced: Mer see |
What is Belgium famous for?
Belgium is world-famous for its chocolate, waffles, beer, and its national football team, the Red Devils. Belgium is also home to NATO headquarters and to the EU Commission and European Parliament. Brussels is often referred to as the capital of the EU.
Is Belgium considered a poor country?
Although Belgium is a wealthy country, public expenditures far exceeded income for many years, and taxes were not diligently pursued.
Is Belgium a good place to live?
Belgium is a very family-friendly country to live in. It has good educational, healthcare, and cultural facilities in all the main cities. Belgium is generally quite a safe place to live. Brussels has many municipalities popular with young families and the city has some of the best international schools.
How cold is Belgium in winter?
The average winter temperatures in Belgium are around 1 to 7°C (34-44° F). You can expect rain for about half of your stay if visiting Belgium between the end of November and February. It can rain every day, but you may also get lucky and it will be dry during your entire stay…
What is I love you in Belgium?
Ik hou van je.
What religion is in Belgium?
Catholicism has traditionally been Belgium’s majority religion, with particular strength in Flanders.
How much English is spoken in Belgium?
Even though English isn’t an official language of Belgium, it is still spoken by 55% of its people.
Is Belgium a rich country?
The average Belgian has the third highest net financial assets in the world. According to the ‘Global Wealth Report’, released by German insurance company Allianz, only Switzerland and the United States score higher. The Netherlands ended up fourth.
How safe is Belgium?
OVERALL RISK : MEDIUM. Overall, Belgium is a safe country to travel to. Crime rates are low and anything happening to you on the streets of Belgium is unlikely. The only issue to keep an eye on, apart from being vigilant for terrorist attacks, is petty theft and pickpocketing.
What is the most popular food in Belgium?
Top 10 Belgian foods – with recipes
Is Flemish same as Dutch?
Belgium has three official languages: Dutch, French and German. In Flanders, the northern part of Belgium, people speak Dutch. Most of the time, this variant of Dutch is called Flemish.
Is Dutch hard to learn?
Dutch is probably the easiest language to learn for English speakers as it positions itself somewhere between German and English.
Is Dutch and German the same?
The languages: Dutch and German
Dutch is very similar to German, especially with regards to vocabulary, but the grammar is very different. It could be argued that Dutch has developed further and has become more simplified. The difference between the two languages is very clear when you look at the four cases.
Is Belgian-Dutch different?
But what are the differences between Dutch in The Netherlands and in Belgium? Dutch is an official language in Belgium, but it’s not spoken throughout the whole country. Dutch is mainly spoken in Flanders (Vlaanderen), the Dutch speaking part of Belgium. The ‘Belgian Dutch’ is called Flemish (Vlaams).
Which language do they speak in Belgium?
Belgium has three official languages – English, Dutch, and French.English, however, is not the primary language they speak in the country. But even if it is not, a large percentage of the population speaks English.As such, you can speak the language in many situations all over Belgium A large number of Flemish and French speakers can speak and understand a second language.
Do they speak English in Belgium?
The capital region of Brussels is bilingual, so Belgians normally speak French and Flemish fluently. Normally locals also speak English. Belgium has three official languages: French, Dutch and German. In Belgian schools the official two languages taught are French and Dutch, so the majority of Belgians are bilingual.
What languages are spoken in Gent Belgium?
What Language Does Ghent Belgium Speak? In Belgium, Dutch is the official language. Flemings Flemish’s use of Dutch is commonly called pejorative by French-speakers, while still being technically Dutch. There are several dialects of Dutch that are spoken in Flanders, often called Dutch lligent dialect.