Learning the Local Language in Belgium: A Practical Guide for Expatriates

Published on January 17, 2026 and written by Cyril Jarnias

Settling in Belgium isn’t just about finding a place to live and a job. It’s also about entering a linguistic landscape unique in Europe, where three official languages – Dutch, French, and German – coexist with a multitude of dialects, regional languages, and languages of immigration. For an expatriate, choosing which language to learn, where and how to practice it, can make all the difference between superficial integration and a truly local life.

Understanding the Belgian Linguistic Landscape Before Choosing Your Language

Even before looking for a course, it’s essential to understand how Belgium is organized linguistically. The country does not operate on a “one language–one state” model, but on a balance between regions, language communities, and very specific legislation.

The Three Official Languages and the Reality on the Ground

Belgium recognizes three official languages: Dutch, French, and German. However, their demographic weight and daily presence are not comparable.

Here is a simplified overview of the distribution of the main languages:

Language	Official Status	Approximate Share of Population	Main Practice Areas
Dutch	Official (Flemish Community, Flanders, Brussels)	≈ 60% (native language)	Flanders (north), Brussels (co-official)
French	Official (French Community, Wallonia, Brussels)	≈ 40% (native language)	Wallonia (south), Brussels (de facto dominant)
German	Official (German-speaking Community)	< 1% (native language)	East of Liège province (Eupen-Malmedy)

In addition to these languages, there are languages of immigration (Maghrebi Arabic, Turkish, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, English, etc.) and regional languages (Walloon, Picard, Luxembourgish, Limburgish, Yiddish in Antwerp, etc.), but for an expatriate wanting to integrate, the priority remains one of the three official languages.

Organization by Language Areas

The Belgian Constitution does not list the official languages in black and white, but it divides the territory into four “language areas”:

In practice, this means that the administration must use the official language of the area: Dutch in Flanders, French in Wallonia, German in the German-speaking region. In Brussels, the authorities officially operate in French and Dutch. However, certain border municipalities, known as “municipalities with language facilities,” must offer certain services in another language upon request from citizens.

For an expatriate, this framework has very concrete implications: administrative forms, official correspondence (taxes, ID card, municipal documents) are written in the language of the region. It is therefore better to at least know how to read this language.

Widespread but Unequal Multilingualism

Belgium is notoriously multilingual: over half the population is at least bilingual, and many are trilingual. However, the level of plurilingualism varies greatly by region.

Highlights the gap between Flanders, Wallonia, and Brussels

Academic Report

Region	Knowledge of French	Knowledge of Dutch	Knowledge of English
Flanders	≈ 59%	Majority native language	≈ 53%
Wallonia	Majority native language (excluding German-speaking region)	≈ 19%	≈ 17%
Brussels	≈ 95%	≈ 59%	≈ 41%

In addition, approximately 55% of Belgians report being able to hold a conversation in English, with even higher rates in Brussels. For an expatriate, English can serve as a crutch upon arrival, but relying solely on it quickly becomes limiting, especially outside the capital and for long-term procedures (employment, citizenship, social integration).

Which Language to Learn Based on the Region Where You Live?

To avoid choosing the wrong priority, a simple principle applies in Belgium: start with the dominant language of the area where you live and work.

Main Place of Residence	Local Language to Prioritize	Practical Comment
Flanders (Antwerp, Ghent, Bruges, etc.)	Dutch	Essential for the job market and daily life
Wallonia (Liège, Namur, Mons, etc.)	French	Language of administration, school, and businesses
Brussels-Capital Region	French and/or Dutch	French is almost indispensable, Dutch is very useful
German-speaking region (Eupen-Malmedy)	German (and often French/Dutch)	Very multilingual environment, but German remains the local language

A piece of advice often given locally: in Brussels, you can start a conversation in English, then ask in which language your interlocutor prefers to continue. Conversely, in Flanders, starting directly in French is poorly received, and the opposite is true in Wallonia with Dutch. Showing that you are making an effort to learn the language of the region is generally greatly appreciated.

Why Learning a Local Language is Strategic for an Expatriate

Beyond daily comfort, speaking the local language plays a key role in your administrative, professional, and integration journey.

Residency, Citizenship, and Official Integration

For long-term residence, the rules depend on your status, but the general trend in Belgium is clear: language is progressively becoming an integration criterion.

For citizenship, a formal requirement already exists: demonstrate an elementary level (CEFR A2) in one of the three official languages. This A2 corresponds to an ability to manage in simple situations: introducing oneself, talking about family and work, understanding common phrases in daily life.

Several pathways allow proving this level:

– Language certificate issued by a recognized organization (VDAB, Forem, Bruxelles Formation, Arbeitsamt B…)

– Certificate of 400 hours of language courses completed at an accredited organization

– Certificate of a social integration pathway including language courses

The community integration programs (Flemish, Francophone, German-speaking) generally combine three dimensions: social orientation, language learning, and pathway to employment. In most cases, the official language objective is set at level A2. In Flanders, an additional requirement, after obtaining the integration certificate, is to pass an oral Dutch exam at level B1 within two years.

Job Market: Language as a Passkey (or Barrier)

On the Belgian job market, mastery of the local language is often a decisive filter.

In Flanders, the situation is particularly well-documented: approximately 80% of job postings via the public service VDAB require a good, or even very good, level of Dutch. In this same context, a study showed that for 16% of migrants born outside the EU, the lack of Dutch was the main obstacle to accessing suitable employment – a record virtually unmatched in Europe.

Certain non-medical professions may also impose a minimum language level depending on the region (e.g., for a position in local administration or education). To work in public education, it is generally expected to master at least a B1 level in the language of instruction (French or Dutch).

Higher Education and University Life

Many Belgian universities offer programs in English, but don’t be mistaken: English does not necessarily exempt you from learning the local language.

Major Flemish universities (KU Leuven, University of Antwerp via Linguapolis, universities of Ghent, etc.) offer a “preparatory year” in Dutch for non-French/non-Dutch-speaking students who want to subsequently follow a program in Dutch. This year can grant a specific visa provided it is followed by enrollment in a bachelor’s or master’s program in Dutch.

Daily Citizenship: Beyond Paperwork

Speaking the local language isn’t just for passing exams or filling out forms. It also transforms simple gestures – chatting with a neighbor, joking with a colleague, understanding jokes in a bar, following local news – into opportunities to truly feel “at home”.

Belgium can seem a bit reserved at first. Many testimonials highlight that Belgians do not easily confide in English, but open up more when an expatriate makes the effort to communicate in their language, even with a strong accent and imperfect vocabulary.

Where and How to Learn: An Overview of Resources in Belgium

Once the language is chosen, the question of “how” arises. Belgium offers a very wide range of resources, public and private, in-person and online, free or paid. The key is knowing where to look based on your budget, status (worker, student, job seeker), and time constraints.

Public and Subsidized Pathways: A Key Entry Point

For an expatriate settled long-term, public integration and training pathways are often the most economical – if not free – entry point.

In Flanders and the Flemish side of Brussels, several actors share the landscape:

– VDAB: public employment service in Flanders, which offers Dutch courses focused on work, sometimes integrated into vocational training pathways.

– Centers for Basic Education (CBE) and Centers for Adult Education (CVO): they organize Dutch as a second language (NT2) courses with standard pathways (up to 440 hours to reach A2).

– Agentschap Integratie en Inburgering: Flemish integration agency, which directs towards courses and conducts level tests during a welcome interview.

In Wallonia and the Francophone side of Brussels, other structures take over:

In the German-speaking region, Arbeitsamt B plays an equivalent role for German courses integrated into integration pathways.

In parallel, as part of employment policies, the regional offices (Actiris in Brussels, VDAB, Forem) sometimes offer language vouchers: these are free course hours (in Dutch, French, English, or German) for job seekers or people who are starting a new job and need to improve their level.

Brussels: A Unique Linguistic Ecosystem

The Brussels-Capital Region concentrates a large part of the adult course offerings, with a clear specialization: Dutch on one side, French on the other. Several institutions play a role as “one-stop shops.”

For Dutch:

– Huis van het Nederlands Brussel (House of Dutch) centralizes information on all Dutch courses in the capital. After an interview and a level test, the team directs you to the most suitable course (CVO, associations, universities, etc.).

– The Flemish Community Commission (VGC) disseminates practical information on learning Dutch and life in Dutch in Brussels.

For French:

– La Maison de la Francité lists numerous French courses in Brussels, from beginner level to advanced.

– Organizations like EPFC, Prosocbru (network of 46 social advancement schools), or Bruxelles Formation offer structured pathways for adults.

A summary table helps to find your way:

Type of Resource	Dutch (Brussels)	French (Brussels)
Orientation Desk	Huis van het Nederlands Brussel	Maison de la Francité
Public/Subsidized Courses	CVO, VDAB, NT2 programs, VGC integration	EPFC, social advancement schools, BAPA, Bruxelles Formation
Regional Online Resources	Brulingua (free platform Brussels Region)	Brulingua (also for French)
Information for Expatriates	commissioner.brussels, VGC	commissioner.brussels, COCOF, BAPA

For an expatriate in Brussels, using these structures upon arrival is often the best way to build a solid foundation, at low cost, before possibly complementing with more targeted private courses.

Private Language Schools and University Centers

Beyond public schemes, Belgium is full of private language schools, more flexible but more expensive. They often target an audience of professionals or expatriates in a hurry, and focus on small groups, intensive schedules, or tailor-made formulas.

Among well-established players:

– BXL Academy (Brussels): intensive courses in Dutch, French, and English in mini-groups (up to 7 people), with offerings dedicated to companies.

– CLL Language Centres (Brussels, Louvain-la-Neuve): wide variety of formulas (weekly courses, bi-weekly “boost” courses, intensive workshops, conversation clubs).

– Alliance Française de Bruxelles-Europe: specialized in French, with general courses, exam preparation (DELF, DALF, TCF), cultural workshops.

– Amira Language School, Europa Language School, F9 Language, Berlitz, Nederlands Academy: wide range of courses for adults, sometimes in connection with Actiris for free modules for job seekers.

– Lingua Academy (Brussels): courses in French, Dutch, English, Arabic, Spanish, including TOEFL/IELTS preparation.

Universities complement this landscape with their own language centers:

– Linguapolis (University of Antwerp) offers intensive Dutch courses (20 or 30 lessons per week), accredited CNaVT, with strong immersion and a cultural dimension (visits to Ghent, Bruges, Ostend, Amsterdam).

– ILT KU Leuven, UCT in Ghent, language centers of Brussels universities (VUB, ULB) also offer courses for students and sometimes the general public.

Costs, Registration, and Schedule: What to Expect?

Costs vary greatly depending on whether the course is subsidized or entirely private.

– Subsidized courses (social advancement schools, CVO…): a session of 2 to 4 classes of 3h per week over a semester generally costs between 80 and 200 euros. Reductions exist for students, job seekers, people with disabilities, or refugees.

– Private intensive courses: an intensive module of several weeks in a school like Berlitz or BXL Academy can represent several hundred euros; packages of private lessons can exceed 2,000 euros for 40 sessions.

– Immersion “with the teacher”: formulas of staying with the teacher, with private lessons and full board, often cost around 1,400–2,000 euros per week depending on the number of hours and options (activities, private bathroom, special diet).

On the administrative side, the main lines are as follows:

– Public courses often follow the Belgian academic calendar, with two major registration waves: in January for the February–June semester, and in August for September–January.

– A Belgian ID card or residence permit is often required to register for subsidized courses.

– A placement test is almost systematic to enter the right module.

– For non-EU students requesting a study visa focused on language learning, it is generally necessary to be enrolled in a university program leading to a degree, with the preparatory language year being attached to this project.

Learning Methods: Leveraging Local and Digital Resources

Knowing the schools is not enough. The key, for an expatriate often busy with work or studies, is to implement a realistic method, combining courses, self-study, and informal practice.

Understanding CEFR Levels to Set Goals

In Belgium, almost all language pathways are aligned with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), with a progression in six levels:

Level	Approximate Profile	Use in Belgium
A0	Absolute beginner	Starting point for many NT2 or FLE courses
A1	Can manage very simple situations	First milestone in integration pathways
A2	Upper elementary user	Level required for citizenship
B1	Independent user	Often targeted for advanced integration in Flanders
B2	Advanced independent user (fluent)	Frequently required for many qualified jobs
C1–C2	Advanced to near-native mastery	Target for doctors (C1), translators, teachers…

For a newly arrived expatriate, aiming for A2 in 12 to 18 months with a regular pace is realistic, knowing that some profiles (e.g., Spanish speakers learning French) can progress faster, while others will need more time. The idea is to set clear milestones (A2, then B1, then B2) rather than “I want to be bilingual.”

Combine Courses, Self-Study, and Immersion

Research on language learning shows that apps and online resources can boost basic vocabulary and grammar, but they are not sufficient on their own to achieve fluency. In Belgium, the ideal is to use the country as a permanent “language laboratory.”

An effective approach consists of:

Utilize Belgian Media to Accelerate Comprehension

A recent survey on media consumption in Belgium shows that 97% of the population watched a video in the last 30 days, and over 50% listen to FM radio. In other words, you are evolving in an environment saturated with content in the language you are learning.

Some key figures:

Media Format (Video/Audio)	Share of Belgians Using It
Live TV	≈ 74%
YouTube	≈ 55%
Time-shifted TV	≈ 48%
Series/film streaming	≈ 41%
Live FM Radio	≈ 50%
Audio streaming (Spotify, YouTube Music…)	≈ 30%

For a learner, this means you can: acquire new skills, develop your understanding, and improve your performance.

The goal is not to understand everything, but to transform these media into “structured background noise” that gets you accustomed to the sounds, rhythm of the language, and common expressions.

Digital Resources Specific to Belgium

In addition to major international applications, several tools and platforms are specifically designed for the Belgian context, particularly for Belgian Dutch (often called “Flemish” in everyday language):

– Brulingua: free platform funded by the Brussels-Capital Region, offering courses in Dutch, French, English, and German with a strong focus on practical communication.

– Nedbox: site for learning Dutch from videos about daily life in Flanders, with interactive exercises.

– Huis van het Nederlands: sometimes offers online tools or advice for combining in-person courses and digital learning.

– Daardaar: platform that translates Flemish newspaper articles into French, useful for seeing linguistic differences and enriching vocabulary.

For French, structures like the Alliance Française or platforms like Open Culture also list free resources (podcasts, texts, videos) usable from Belgium.

Adapting to the Specifics of Belgian Languages

Learning French in Wallonia is not quite the same as learning French in Paris, and the Dutch of Flanders has particularities compared to that of the Netherlands. For an expatriate, knowing these nuances helps avoid misunderstandings and makes you more credible with locals.

Dutch in Flanders: “Flemish”, Dialects, and Belgianisms

In Belgium, the language of Flanders is officially Standard Dutch, almost identical to that of the Netherlands grammatically. But on the street, you will hear a mosaic of dialects: Brabantian, West Flemish, East Flemish, Limburgish, each with its own sounds and vocabulary. These dialects even sometimes cross borders, as West Flemish is found in France and some Limburgish dialects are in the Netherlands.

Some useful realities to keep in mind:

To learn effectively, the ideal is to build a solid foundation in Standard Dutch, while gradually familiarizing yourself with the dominant dialect in your city (for example, the Antwerp accent if you live in Antwerp). Most courses in Flanders follow this logic: standard in class, dialects and local expressions via daily life.

Belgian French: Close to French from France, with Its Own Codes

In French-speaking Belgium, you won’t be disoriented if you learned French from French resources. The structure of the language is almost identical. The differences lie mainly in vocabulary, the pronunciation of certain words, and some specific usages.

Some salient features:

For an expatriate, these variations are not a major obstacle. On the contrary, they are often an opportunity to break the ice: showing you know two or three Belgianisms amuses interlocutors and demonstrates your genuine interest in the country.

German in Belgium: Standard and Very Close to German from Germany

In the small German-speaking community in eastern Belgium, the German spoken is very close to standard “Hochdeutsch”. If you learn German with resources from Germany or Austria, you will be comfortable in this region. A local accent certainly exists, but it does not disrupt basic understanding.

For an expatriate settled in this specific region, German will be the key, but in practice many residents also speak French or Dutch, sometimes both, and English is quite present.

Concrete Strategies for Expatriates: From the First Month to Long-Term Settlement

Beyond theory, how do you organize your learning over time? Here is a realistic framework, to adapt according to your pace of life.

The First Few Months: Building a Survival Foundation

From your arrival (or even before), the goal is to lay the foundations:

– Identify the priority language based on your region and work.

– Enroll in a basic course (A0–A1): ideally subsidized if you have a limited budget, or intensive if you need to be operational quickly for professional reasons.

– Set a clear goal for 6–12 months: aim for A2, for example, to be in line with citizenship requirements and integration pathways.

– Install 1 or 2 complementary apps for 10–20 minutes per day of autonomous practice (vocabulary, survival phrases).

– Put the local language in your environment: change your phone’s language, listen to a local radio station in the background, follow a local news page on social media.

After One Year: Consolidate, Certify, Professionalize

Once level A2 is reached, the main risk is stagnation. To overcome it, it is often necessary to:

– Continue in a course leading to B1, with more emphasis on oral production and understanding more complex texts (articles, reports, administrative documents).

– Consider an official exam (DELF/DALF/TCF for French, CNaVT or NT2 exams for Dutch, Goethe/TELC for German) if you have medium-term professional or academic plans.

– Strengthen informal practice: language tandems (via Tandem, HelloTalk, MyLanguageExchange), conversation cafes, local sports clubs where English is not the norm.

– Introduce regular consumption of native, non-simplified content: series, newspapers, podcasts, easy books.

Language, Career, and Entrepreneurship: Thinking “Localization”

For expatriate entrepreneurs, freelancers, or managers who need to communicate with clients across the country, the linguistic dimension often goes beyond simply being able to hold a conversation.

Some concrete challenges:

– Adapt your materials (website, brochures, contracts, customer service) to the languages of your markets: Dutch and French at a minimum, sometimes German.

– Account for regional variations: humor, idioms, cultural references, visual codes, units of measurement, date formats. A campaign that works in Flanders may be perceived as odd in Wallonia if translated literally.

– Rely on native Belgian translators and localizers, who master the nuances (for example, differences between Belgian Dutch and Dutch from the Netherlands, or between French from France and Belgian French).

In this context, your own language level remains important, if only to understand feedback, negotiate with local providers, or intervene in meetings in French or Dutch.

In Conclusion: Making Belgium Your Permanent Learning Ground

Learning the local language in Belgium is neither a luxury nor a simple “plus” on a CV. It is a central lever for:

– Understanding rules and administrative procedures without depending on intermediaries.

– Accessing a job market where language is often the number one filter.

– Building strong ties with your neighbors, colleagues, shopkeepers, local associations.

– Fully enjoying the cultural life of a country where one easily switches from one language to another.

As an expatriate, the question is therefore not so much “should I learn the local language?”, but rather: “where do I start, with which language, and what pace truly suits me?” Once these three answers are clarified, tools, courses, and opportunities to practice will abound. Belgium, with its diversity and clear but permeable linguistic borders, will then become your best classroom.