Do people in Brussels speak Flemish or French?

Brussels is bilingual: French and Dutch are the official languages there. Yet Brussels is home to only a minority of Flemish people. This may sound strange, but the reason is simple. For centuries, Brussels was a Dutch-speaking city and today it is still the capital of Flanders.

What language is most spoken in Brussels?

French language
Dutch language
Brussels/Official languages
Dutch. Dutch is the most spoken primary language of Belgium and the official language of the Flemish Community and the Flemish Region (merged to Flanders). Along with French, it is an official language of the Brussels-Capital Region.

What language should I learn in Belgium?

Learning a new language isn’t easy but sometimes it is just really useful. If you want to get the most out of living in Belgium you will need a basic level of the local language. When visiting Belgium, you will notice that most people speak English. Not only youngsters, but also adults have a good knowledge of English.

Is Brussels a good place to learn French?

French is more international and spoken worldwide. In Belgium, 41\% of the inhabitants speak French. It is the second most spoken language in the country and it is spoken in the south of the country and mainly in Brussels. For this reason, Brussels is a great place to practice and improve your French.

Is English widely spoken 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.

Can I learn French in Belgium?

There is a wide choice of language courses to learn French, Dutch, or German in the numerous language schools in Belgium, with the largest concentration of language schools in Brussels.

How much English is spoken in Brussels?

The number of native English speakers in Brussels is a tiny 3 percent, but hearing it is common on Brussels’ streets and almost 30 percent of citizens speak it well as a second language.

Do most people in Brussels speak English?

Overall everyone speaks English. Not everyone but a vast majority of people do. There is a minority Flemish community in Brussels, some of whom don’t speak French. Also, there are many expats in the city who don’t speak French as well (but they are a small portion of the population).

When did the French become the official language in Brussels?

During the War of the Austrian Succession, between 1745 and 1749, Brussels was under French rule. Under these circumstances, especially after 1780, French became the adopted language of much of the Flemish bourgeoisie, who were later pejoratively labelled Franskiljons (loosely: little Frenchies ).

Why did French become the official language of the Flemish bourgeoisie?

Under these circumstances, especially after 1780, French became the adopted language of much of the Flemish bourgeoisie, who were later pejoratively labelled Franskiljons (loosely: little Frenchies ). The lower classes got progressively poorer, and, by 1784, 15\% of the population was in poverty.

What was the language of the Habsburgs in Brussels?

For the Austrian Habsburg administration French was the language of communication, although the communiqué from the Habsburgs was seldom seen by commoners of Brussels. Under French rule, the use of Dutch was forbidden in the city hall of Brussels.