This is true of Belgium’s three recognized languages. A medieval marriage of these Franconian regional languages with Hebrew and Aramaic—along with contributions from old French and Italian, as well as Slavic languages—produced Yiddish, which has been spoken in Belgium for over 750 years. Belgium’s diverse languages aren’t a matter of simple geography, though. Although Belgians speak many different languages, these three major languages are the only ones with official government recognition. Governments must provide their citizens with versions of every legal and administrative document in each of the official languages. As a result, the ethnic and linguistic mix of the country has changed dramatically in recent years. When Belgium first became a nation, though, Dutch-language domination in Flanders wasn’t guaranteed. The flat country that can become your own holds astonishing treasures of history and culture. (Download). Learning French becomes fun and easy when you learn with movie trailers, music videos, news and inspiring talks. Meanwhile, Wallonia—once dominant as a manufacturing center—was starting to lose its socioeconomic superiority as obsolete infrastructure changed prosperity to recession. The Battle of Liège, started on August 5, 1914, heralded the German occupation of Belgium in the early 20th century. (Dutch is still a close second, at 19.6%—with a 4% resurgence from 2006 to 2011. Part of this German-speaking region had been controlled by France in the late 18th century. Like many countries, Belgium has gone through phases of more liberal immigration policies, followed by immigration restrictions. However, this does not change anything about the use of the official languages of administration in each language area. What language is spoken in companies and
A lot of Flemish people speak French and more and since some time now more French speakers are learning Dutch. The primary language in Belgium is Dutch, spoken by approximately 60% of the population. Napoleonic rule in the 18th and 19th centuries further strengthened the prominence of the French language in Belgium. For example, don’t go on autopilot when counting numbers 70 and above. It is located in the southern part of Belgium with its capital at Namur. Since 1973, their descendants have been governed by the Parliament of the German-speaking Community, headquartered in Eupen (in Liège province). Sometimes this obligation only applies to the official body, other times to the citizens as well. To be on the safe side, start every conversation in English. Belgium was often the battleground in the power struggles of early modern Europe.
In Dutch-language education the French lessons start at the age of 10. Although these trying times were often disastrous for Belgium, they helped shape the unique linguistic interplay that characterizes the modern nation. The Jewish community has especially deep roots in Antwerp, Belgium’s second-largest city. Other cities found in this region include Liege, Mons, Seraing, Verviers, Tournai, among others.The official language spoken in this region is French. Foreign films and TV series, for instance, are not dubbed, but subtitled. These Belgian port cities welcomed tradesmen, artists, bankers and merchants from many foreign lands—and, with them, their languages. But before you pack your bag full of French travel phrases and hop a plane, take a moment to consider the other languages you might encounter. Here’s where Belgium’s linguistic tapestry becomes more intricate.