What Languages Are Spoken in Belgium? Dutch, French, German and Regional Languages
A quick fact guide to the languages of Belgium, covering Dutch, French, German, Brussels, Flemish, Tussentaal, Walloon, Picard, Limburgish, Luxembourgish and Eurovision.
How to use this guide
Browse the facts in order or use the search box to find a specific topic such as Dutch, French, German, Brussels, Flemish, Tussentaal, Walloon, Picard, Limburgish or Eurovision.
What this guide includes
This page keeps the original question-and-answer structure, but presents it in a cleaner, searchable and mobile-friendly layout.
Search by fact, language, region or topic.
Is Belgian a language?
No. “Belgian” is a nationality — used to describe a person from Belgium regardless of the language they speak.
What are the official languages of Belgium?
The three official languages are Dutch (Flanders, north), French (Wallonia, south), and German (eastern Wallonia).
How do you say “thank you” in Belgium?
It depends on the region: in Dutch dank je, in French merci, and in German Danke.
Is French an official language in Belgium?
Yes. French is official in Wallonia. According to the 2024 Eurobarometer, French is the mother tongue of 36% of the population.
Is Belgian French different to the French used in France?
Yes — Belgian French includes words not used in France, e.g., septante (70) and nonante (90) instead of soixante-dix and quatre-vingt-dix.
Is Dutch an official language in Belgium?
Yes. Dutch is official in Flanders. The 2024 Eurobarometer reports Dutch as the mother tongue for 50% of the population.
Is German official in Belgium?
Yes. German is official in the German-speaking community in eastern Belgium. German speakers are under 1% of the population.
Is Brussels officially bilingual?
Yes. Both French and Dutch are the official languages of the Brussels-Capital Region.
What type of Dutch is spoken in Belgium?
Flemish is the Belgian variety of Dutch spoken in Flanders.
What is Tussentaal?
Tussentaal (“in-between language”) is a colloquial Flemish Dutch that mixes local dialect features with the standard language.
Is Luxembourgish spoken in Belgium?
Historically yes — Luxembourgish, a Germanic language, is associated with Arlon in Wallonia near Luxembourg. Common phrases include moien (hello) and äddi (goodbye).
What is Walloon?
Walloon is an Oïl Romance language related to French, traditionally spoken in Wallonia.
How many Belgians can speak Spanish?
According to the 2024 Eurobarometer, 9% of Belgians can have a conversation in Spanish.
How many native speakers of Italian are there in Belgium?
According to the 2024 Eurobarometer, 1% of Belgians declared Italian to be their native language.
Is Limburgish spoken in Belgium?
Yes. Limburgish is a regional Germanic language spoken in northeastern Belgium.
Is Champenois spoken in Belgium?
Yes. Champenois is a traditional Romance language of several towns in the province of Namur in southern Belgium.
Is Lorrain spoken in Belgium?
Yes. Lorrain is the traditional Romance language of Gaume in Wallonia.
Is Picard spoken in Belgium?
Yes. Picard is the traditional Romance language of Picardy Wallonia. Common phrases include bonjour (hello) and à l’arvoïure (goodbye).
Was Brussels always a French-speaking city?
No. Historically, Brussels was Dutch-speaking; today it is predominantly French-speaking.
How many Belgians can speak English?
According to the 2024 Eurobarometer, 58% of Belgians can have a conversation in English.
What languages has Belgium used at the Eurovision Song Contest?
Belgium has entered songs in French, Dutch, English, and imaginary languages. Before language rules were relaxed, entries were only in national official languages — so Belgium used French and Dutch.
With what language has Belgium won the Eurovision Song Contest?
French. In 1986, Sandra Kim won with “J’aime la vie”; it was also Belgium’s best-selling song of that year.
Has Belgium participated with songs in imaginary languages?
Yes — Urban Trad’s “Sanomi” (2003, 2nd place) and Ishtar’s “O Julissi” (2008, did not reach the final) were performed in imaginary languages.
Quick facts
Languages in Belgium FAQ
Is Belgian a language?
No. “Belgian” is a nationality — used to describe a person from Belgium regardless of the language they speak.
What are the official languages of Belgium?
The three official languages are Dutch, French and German.
Is Brussels officially bilingual?
Yes. Both French and Dutch are the official languages of the Brussels-Capital Region.
What type of Dutch is spoken in Belgium?
Flemish is the Belgian variety of Dutch spoken in Flanders.
What is Walloon?
Walloon is an Oïl Romance language related to French, traditionally spoken in Wallonia.
Has Belgium used imaginary languages at Eurovision?
Yes. Urban Trad’s “Sanomi” and Ishtar’s “O Julissi” were performed in imaginary languages.