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Belgium: People and Culture Overview
Home » Belgium » Belgium: People and Culture » Belgium: People and Culture OverviewBelgium is a small country in Europe that is about the size of Maryland, 11,730 square miles, with a population of 10 million. The country is divided into three regions: Flanders, Wallonia, and Brussels; each region has self-government in many capacities. Flanders and Wallonia contain many cities, while Brussels encompasses only one city. Belgium has three official languages: Dutch, French, and German. However, English is widely spoken and is known as the fourth unofficial language.
The division of Belgium’s regions makes the culture very interesting. As you can imagine, each region has its own cultures and its own way of life. For instance, Flanders, in the north, is where the Dutch, or Flemings, live. People speak Dutch, also known as Flemish, in that region. Wallonia, in the south, is inhabited by the French who, of course, speak French. Brussels, which is centrally located, is officially bilingual, although it is mostly inhabited by French.
While some cultures of these three regions differ, there are also cultures that are a part of Belgium as a whole. This guide will take a look mostly at the people and culture of the country in general.
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