Belgium has three official languages – English, Dutch, and French. English, however, is not the primary language they speak in the country. As such, you can speak the language in many situations all over Belgium. A large number of Flemish and French speakers can speak and understand a second language.
Can you get by with English in Belgium?
Even though English isnt an official language of Belgium, it is still spoken by 55% of its people. When visiting Brussels, you can see by their bilingual street signs that both Dutch and French are widely used, therefore there is no risk of offending someone when opening a conversation in either language.
Can you live in Belgium speaking English?
English Isnt as Widely Spoken as You Might Think In comparison to neighboring countries, speaking English isnt very common here. That being said, were talking about an English-speaking percentage of 60% across Belgium, so you will still find someone to understand during your first few weeks in Bruges or Antwerp.
Is English widely spoken in Brussels?
Brussels is probably the most cosmopolitan city in western Europe. It has thousands of foreign residents who are native speakers of English (including many Americans) and thousands more who use English as their preferred second language and have little or no grasp of Belgiums official languages.
Is Belgium a bad place to live?
Belgium is generally quite a safe place to live. Brussels has many municipalities popular with young families and the city has some of the best international schools. Bruges, Louvain-la-Neuve, and Tervuren are other cities with attractive family-friendly neighborhoods.
Is Belgium expensive to live?
A single person estimated monthly costs are 943$ (799€) without rent. Cost of living in Belgium is, on average, 6.91% higher than in United States. Rent in Belgium is, on average, 35.85% lower than in United States .By City in Belgium.RankCityCost of Living Index4Gent73.423 more rows
How do I speak in Belgium?
The primary language in Belgium is Dutch, spoken by approximately 60% of the population. The Flemish dialect is almost identical to the Dutch spoken across the border in the Netherlands, but some differences in vocabulary have led some to refer to the language colloquially as Flemish.
Is it worth living in Belgium?
Belgium scores well on the main indicators in the OECD Better Life Index. It ranks above average on income, wealth, wellbeing, civic engagement, employment, housing, and personal security among others. The overall cost of living is around 11% higher on average than in the UK, but rent prices are around 14% cheaper.
Where do the rich live in Belgium?
Sint-Martens-Latem Sint-Martens-Latem is Belgiums richest place, and what about your municipality? Local residents in Sint-Martens-Latem, near Ghent, boast the highest average income of all Belgian municipalities. They can count on an annual income of 27,678 euros.
Why is water so expensive in Belgium?
Tariffs. Water tariffs throughout Belgium are increasing-block tariffs with higher unit prices for higher consumption.
Can I move to Belgium without a job?
Anyone wanting to come to the country for reasons other than work must provide proof of having the means to support themselves and their families. Non-EEA nationals who are looking to be employed in Belgium need to apply for a work permit.
Is Belgium a bad place?
Belgium is generally quite a safe place to live. The main Belgian cities all have their crime hotspots, but there are plenty of safe suburban areas. Brussels has the highest crime of any major Belgian city but ranks 24th on the 2019 Safe Cities Index measuring cities worldwide.