What are People from Belgium Called?
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Are you wondering “what are people from Belgium called”? You’ve come to the right place!
The very straightforward answer is that people from Belgium are called ‘Belgians‘. I should know, because I am one!
If that was what you were looking for, thanks so much for reading and have a nice day!
But if you’d like to read more interesting facts about Belgium and its inhabitants, read on! I’ll explain more about the people living in Flanders, Wallonia, Belgium’s German-speaking part and Brussels. Oh, and there’s much to tell about names and surnames as well!
What are people from Belgium called?
Belgians are people from the country of Belgium. There is not one specific term for them in English, so they are simply called “Belgians”.
However, you may sometimes hear them referred to as “Belgian nationals” or “Belgian citizens”.
In Belgium, 3 languages are spoken which translates Belgians as Belgen (Dutch), Belges (French), and Belgier in German.
Belgium is host to many different ethnicities, which may be residential, legal, historical, or cultural.
However, the majority of Belgians belong to one of two ethnic groups or communities: Flemings in Flanders who speak Dutch and Walloons in Wallonia who speak French or Walloon.
Not to be confused with the Belgae.
The Belgae were an alliance of various ethnic groups who inhabited northern Gaul throughout the third century BC.
The Belgae are credited with giving their name to the Roman province of Gallia Belgica and, much later, to Belgium.
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🧐 What are people in Flanders called?
The Flemish people, who speak Flemish Dutch, are a Germanic ethnic group native to Belgium that makes up about 60% of the Belgian population.
In Dutch they are called ‘Vlamingen’.
“Flemish” was once a geographical term used to describe all people who lived in the medieval County of Flanders. This area includes parts of present-day Belgium, France, and the Netherlands.
Over time, the meaning of “Flemish” changed to refer only to those people who shared a common ethnicity or language and live in Flanders.
Today, “Flanders” refers to the Flemish Region of Belgium, which comprises the Dutch-speaking half of the kingdom.
It comprises the essentials of old county West Flanders and East Flanders as well as three more culturally affiliated provinces to the east that were formerly not part of Flanders.
The province of Antwerp is one, as well as Belgian Limburg, and Flemish Brabant.
💡 Brussels—which was once part of the historical region known as Brabant—is now politically affiliated with the Flemish Community but not with the Flemish Region.
🧐 What are people in Wallonia called?
In the specific sense of the term, Walloon refers to inhabitants of Belgium’s Walloon provinces who are native to them: Hainaut, Namur, Luxembourg, Liège (excluding German cantons in the east), and Nivelles in Brabant.
The Walloon language is still spoken by a small proportion of the population (typically those over the age of 65). The majority of people speak French. However, there is a distinct accent that sets it apart from standard French in France.
The term “Walloon” means ‘walon’ in Walloon and ‘waal’ in Flemish.
🧐 What are people in the German part of Belgium called?
The German-Speaking Community of Belgium, though the youngest federal entity in the country, is just as crucial to Wallonia as the French and Flemish communities.
It has two parts:
📍 The Eupen region in the north, which reaches into the Netherlands and comprises Kelmis, Lontzen, Raeren and Eupen;
📍 And Belgian Eifel in the south bordering the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg comprises Bütgenbach, Büllingen, Amel, Saint-Vithand Burg-Reuland.
💡 The inhabitants of the eastern part of Belgium don’t have their own specific names.
🧐 What are the people of Brussels called?
The people of Brussels are called “Bruxellois” in French, and “Brusselaars” in Dutch. This is the same as saying “people of Paris” are called “Parisians”.
It just means people who live in Brussels. However, you may sometimes hear them referred to as “residents of Brussels” or “citizens of Brussels”.
There is not one specific term for them in English.
Is someone from Belgium considered Dutch?
Someone who is ‘Dutch’ is an inhabitant of The Netherlands.
Belgium and The Netherlands are two different countries, although they share the same language.
This means that someone from Belgium is not Dutch.
However, Dutch is also the name for the language that is spoken both in The Netherlands and in the Northern part of Belgium.
The Dutch that’s spoken in Belgium is often referred to as ‘Flemish’ however, officially, that term doesn’t exist.
Can English speakers live in Belgium?
Belgium has three official languages—Dutch, French and German.
English isn’t considered an official language in Belgium but a large percentage of the population speaks English.
This means that you will be able to communicate in the language in a variety of settings throughout Belgium.
What are the most popular first names in Belgium?
Traditional male and female first names are still strongly represented in 2023.
📌 Noah ranks first among men. Olivia remains in the lead among women.
Along with Olivia, other popular girl names in Belgium include Emma, Louise, Mila, and Alice.
In addition, the top name for boys is Noah, other top boy names include Arthur, Louis, Liam, and Jules. (Source: statbel.fgov.be)
In the most recent year, these are the most popular first names for newborn boys and girls.
💡 Many people think that French names and Belgian names are not so different. Even the Flemish people often use French names, adapted to Dutch spelling and pronunciation.
What are the most popular last names in Belgium?
In Belgium, family names like Peeters, Janssens, and Maes are still the most prevalent in the top 10,000 families on January 1st 2023.
📍 The top three family names in Flanders are the same as those throughout Belgium.
📍 In Wallonia, the most common last names are Dubois, Lambert and Martin.
📍 For families living in Brussels-Capital Region, Diallo, Bah and Barry are the most frequent.
Out of the 10,000 most frequent family names, only 181 people have rarer surnames such as Blyweert, Gaeremynck, Hochepied, Morgante, Nasser or Van Lishout.
(Source: statbel.fgov.be)
Frequently Asked Questions
What nationality are people from Belgium?
People from Belgium have the Belgian nationality.
What is the ethnic makeup of Belgium?
Belgium’s ethnic makeup is mainly Belgian (75.2%), followed by Italian (4.1%), Moroccan (3.7%), French (2.4%), Turkish (2%) and Dutch (2%). Other ethnicities make up 10.6% of the population (2012 est.).
Why are Belgians called Flemish?
Belgians are often called Flemish because the “Flemish” language is a regional dialect of Dutch spoken in parts of Belgium. The term “Flemish” is often used to refer to people or things related to Flanders, the Northern half of Belgium.
Are Dutch and Belgian the same?
No, the Dutch live in the Netherlands, while Belgians live in Belgium. The neighbouring countries are located in Western Europe and have many cultural similarities. They also share the same language (although Belgium has 2 other official languages).
Is Belgium mostly Dutch or French?
Belgium has 3 official languages: Dutch, French and German. 58% of Belgium speaks Dutch, 31% French and 1% German. So although Belgian is multi-lingual, Dutch is the largest language spoken in the country.
What is Belgium Dutch called?
Belgian Dutch is often referred to as ‘Flemish’, but it is not an official term. The correct term is ‘Dutch’.
What is Belgium French called?
Belgian French is often called Walloon, but that’s not an official term. The correct term is ‘French’.
Wrapping Up: what are people from Belgium called
The population of Belgium are called Belgians and is made up of people from different backgrounds, including French, Dutch, and German speakers.
BELGIUM TRAVEL PLANNING RESOURCES
Getting to Belgium: Fly into one of the main international airports: Brussels Airport (BRU) or Charleroi Brussels South Airport (CRL). Take an international train to Brussels South Station. Or take a ferry to Dover or The Netherlands, then drive or take the train to Belgium.
Getting Around: For the major destinations, the train is by far the best option. You can book your train tickets here. If you’d like to visit smaller places, the most convenient way would be to rent a car. We always use Discover cars, they compare all the rental companies and give you the best rates.
Accommodation: Booking.com is the most popular accommodation platform in Belgium. It’s what I use every single time.
Guided tours: Use Get Your Guide or Viator to find fun tours in Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp. Or Guruwalk to find free walking tours in multiple destinations.
If this helped you plan your adventure, a coffee would go a long way in fueling my next guide! 😉
