Which languages are spoken in Belgium?

Belgium has three official languages: Dutch, French, and German. The country is divided into distinct linguistic communities:1

• Dutch (Flemish): Spoken by the Flemings, who make up more than half of the population, primarily in the north and west.23
• French: Spoken by the Walloons, who constitute about one-third of the population, mainly in the south and east.23
• German: Spoken by a small fraction of the population in the eastern part of Liège province.3

The capital city, Brussels, is officially bilingual, with both French and Dutch holding official status. While historically a Flemish-speaking city, French is currently the dominant lingua franca in the Brussels-Capital Region. Additionally, due to its international status, English is widely used in Brussels, particularly in professional and educational settings.243

The linguistic boundaries are strictly demarcated by law, requiring public signs and government publications to be in the official language of the respective region.2