Belgians speak French due to the country's historical heritage, where French was the language of the elite for many years. Today, French is one of the three official languages of Belgium, alongside Dutch and German.
The reason why a part of the Belgians speak French dates back to the time when present-day Belgium was part of the Spanish Netherlands and then the Austrian Netherlands. For centuries, this territory was under foreign influence: Spanish, Austrian, and then French. Especially under Napoleon, when the region was integrated into France, French became the dominant administrative and cultural language. This long period of integration and close ties with France has left a lasting mark on the southern part of the country, explaining why the Belgian Francophone communities still use the language of Molière today.
In the Middle Ages, it was clearly Latin that dominated in administration and the Church, but with the arrival of the Burgundians in the 15th century and then the Spanish, French gradually established itself as a prestigious language among the nobility and the elites. In the 18th century, it was Brussels that set the pace: schools, courts, in short, the entire administration officially shifted to French. The result: if you want to advance socially, it is better to speak French. After Belgium's independence in 1830, this was confirmed: everything official would be in French only, even in predominantly Flemish regions. Naturally, there was discontent among the Flemish, which gradually led to linguistic reforms at the beginning of the 20th century, including the official recognition of Dutch in Flanders and the beginning of linguistic balance at the national level.
Belgium has implemented several key laws to effectively manage linguistic coexistence between Dutch speakers, French speakers, and German speakers. Since the 1960s, the country has officially been divided into linguistic regions: Dutch in the north, French in the south, and German in the east. Laws such as the one on language use in administrative matters or the famous Cultural Pact have clearly established which language to use and where, in order to avoid disputes and protect each community. As a result, each region develops its schools, media, and institutions in its majority language, which directly influences the daily and official use of French in Belgium. Not perfect, but effective in calming tensions in this country with multiple linguistic identities.
French plays a central role in the Belgian economy, especially in regions like Brussels and Wallonia. Many Belgian companies are directly focused on the French market, their primary trading partner. In tourism, it’s the same: speaking French clearly helps attract the many visitors from France and elsewhere each year. Culturally, the French language cements the Francophone identity in Belgium, whether through literature, cinema, or comics (Tintin, for example, a global symbol but originally Belgian!). Francophone media, such as the television channel RTBF or the newspaper Le Soir, also actively contribute to this cultural dynamic, reflecting the artistic and intellectual richness of the country.
Belgium has always been a complex country when it comes to languages. In its early days, French largely dominated, particularly among the elites and in the major cities, while Dutch was gradually sidelined. But this changed over time: starting in the 20th century, the Flemish asserted their linguistic identity, gradually establishing Dutch on equal footing with French. This led to a Belgium that officially recognizes multiple languages, including German, because yes, they are there, even if in smaller numbers. Today, the country juggles a sometimes tense coexistence with a true linguistic richness, where multilingualism and cultural diversity are integral parts of Belgian identity. And concretely, this results in a society that must learn to communicate, exchange, and get to know each other in several languages. Not always easy, but quite a cool challenge.
In the Middle Ages, the territory of present-day Belgium where the French language is spoken primarily belonged to the County of Hainaut, the Principality of Liège, and the Duchy of Brabant. These regions gradually adopted the French language under the cultural and political influence of neighboring France.
The French spoken in Belgium has unique characteristics. For example, the number "90" is said as "nonante" instead of "quatre-vingt-dix," and "70" is said as "septante" instead of "soixante-dix." These forms are also used in Swiss Romande.
Brussels, the capital of Belgium and the seat of major European institutions, is officially bilingual, in French and Dutch. However, French is largely dominant, with nearly 90% of the inhabitants using it on a daily basis.
The current linguistic border between Dutch speakers and French speakers was officially established only in 1962, following debates and tensions that lasted several decades, reflecting the symbolic importance of language for Belgian identity.
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