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How are Belgians different from Dutch?
Belgium is one of those special countries that have three official languages: Dutch, French and German. That’s right, Dutch (and not Flemish) is one of the official Belgian languages! So, the terms ‘Flemish’ and ‘Belgian Dutch’ actually refer to the same language.
How is Belgium different from France?
One of the most obvious and important differences between Belgium and France is that whereas French are nationalists, Belgians are cosmopolites and more open- minded.
Are Dutch and Belgian the same?
Dutch is an official language in Belgium, but it’s not spoken throughout the whole country. The ‘Belgian Dutch’ is called Flemish (Vlaams). The good news is that the grammar in both countries is exactly the same and in general vocabulary is comparable.
Is Belgium considered the Netherlands?
Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Western Europe. It is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to the southwest, and the North Sea to the northwest.
How is Belgian French different from French?
The French language spoken in Belgium differs very little from that of France or Switzerland. It is characterized by the use of some terms that are considered archaic in France, as well as loanwords from languages such as Walloon, Picard and Dutch.
What makes Belgian unique?
Belgium is not only the land of waffles, beer, chocolate, and some of the best music festivals in the world but also of diamonds, surreal folk festivals, and a record-breaking political gridlock. Here, Culture Trip takes a closer look at 11 things that make the small country stand out from the pack.
Is Belgian an ethnicity?
Belgians are primarily a nationality or citizen group, by jus soli (Latin: right of the soil), also known as birthright citizenship, and are not a homogeneous ethnic group.
Are Belgian and French similar?
Belgium and France are more than just neighbours: they share a common language – at least in Wallonia the southern part of Belgium where the natives speak French rather than Flemish or German. In Belgium however, it’s meaning is closer to something like ‘here you are’ or ‘take this’.
What is the difference between the French and Belgian cultures?
The differences between French and Belgian cultures is a very complex subject: to make it simple, French-speaking Belgians have long appropriated French culture as there own, whereas Flemish-speaking Belgians have a very distinct culture (except, historically, the Flemish upper classes).
What language do they speak in Belgium?
The population of Belgium is divided into three linguistic communities. In the north the Flemings, who constitute more than half of Belgium’s population, speak Flemish, which is equivalent to Dutch (sometimes called Netherlandic). In the south the French-speaking Walloons make up about one-third of the country’s population.
What is the main religion in Belgium?
Religion. The majority of Belgians are Roman Catholic, but regular attendance at religious services is variable. Although it is marked in the Flemish region and the Ardennes, regular attendance at church has decreased in the Walloon industrial region and in Brussels, and nearly one-third of Belgians are nonreligious.
How did the Flemish culture come to northern Belgium?
Flemish culture came to northern Belgium as a consequence of the Germanic invasions of the fourth century. In the central and southern regions, the Germanic invaders formed small kingdoms and adopted their subjects’ culture. Until the eighth century,…