Table of Contents
- 1 Why are there French people in Belgium?
- 2 Why do they speak French in Brussels?
- 3 What do you call someone from Belgium?
- 4 What religion is in Belgium?
- 5 Why is Flanders so rich?
- 6 Who is famous from Belgium?
- 7 What is the history and culture of Belgium?
- 8 When did Belgium gain its independence from France?
Why are there French people in Belgium?
Belgium’s famous Dutch-versus-French language divide was established in the Middle Ages when Roman Emperor Charlemagne was forced to divide his kingdom between his three grandsons. The divide created fluctuating friction between Dutch-speaking Flanders and French-speaking Wallonia and it continues to this day.
Why do they speak French in Brussels?
The many immigrants, most of whom originated from Flanders, were forced to speak French if they wanted to climb the social ladder. This caused the Frenchification of Brussels to continue at a rapid pace.
Why does Belgium have two languages?
Why do Belgium have two languages? DESPITE being a relatively small country, two major languages are spoken around Belgium. The diversity is due to the countries chequered history, with it constantly changing hands between various nations until independence from the Dutch in 1830.
Why does Belgium speak 3 languages?
Historically speaking, the country has had quite a wide variety of rulers, influencing how multilingual and multicultural Belgians are today. Due to their close proximity to these three countries, they have three official languages that divide Belgium into three main regions.
What do you call someone from Belgium?
Belgians (Dutch: Belgen, French: Belges, German: Belgier) are people identified with the Kingdom of Belgium, a federal state in Western Europe. There is also a substantial Belgian diaspora, which has settled primarily in the United States, Canada, France, and the Netherlands.
What religion is in Belgium?
Roman Catholic
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.
What is the most popular food in Belgium?
Top 20 Most Popular Foods from Belgium
- Flemish Beef Stew – Stoofvlees.
- Beer.
- Chocolate.
- Belgian Waffles.
- French Fries with Mayonnaise.
- North Sea Prawn Cocktail.
- Chocolate Mousse.
- Vol-au-vent.
Which city in Belgium speak French?
Brussels
French. Second on the list of most-spoken languages in Belgium is French. The French-speaking community lives in the southern Wallonia region and in the capital, Brussels.
Why is Flanders so rich?
From WW II, Flanders became economically more important, due to its harbors (notably Bruges and Antwerp), its entrepreneurship, its education system and its worker’s ethos.
Who is famous from Belgium?
Famous People From Belgium You Should Know
- Charles V. The painting ‘Allegory on the Abdication of Emperor Charles V’ by Frans Francken | © Peter Horree / Alamy Stock Photo.
- Gerardus Mercator.
- Peter Paul Rubens.
- Adolphe Sax.
- Maurice Maeterlinck.
- Victor Horta.
- Georges Lemaître.
- Jean Baptiste “Django” Reinhardt.
What should you not wear in Belgium?
Like most of Western Europe there is no dress code as such and really anything is acceptable. Black is always a popular color, and smart casual clothes will help you fit right in. Jeans are always popular and will serve as a versatile base to your wardrobe.
Why did Belgium adopt French as the official language?
When Belgium became independent, the political elite felt that a new nation had to be built and to do so, the adoption of a common language was necessary. They decided to adopt French as the only official language because it was the language spoken by the upper class across the new country.
What is the history and culture of Belgium?
Belgium History, Language and Culture. History of Belgium. Belgium’s famous Dutch-versus-French language divide was established in the Middle Ages when Roman Emperor Charlemagne was forced to divide his kingdom between his three grandsons.
When did Belgium gain its independence from France?
When Belgium gained its independence in 1830, the world was very different. So was Belgium. First, French was the political and diplomatic language prevailing in Europe at the time.
Are there any French words that are unique to Belgium?
Vocabulary. Words unique to Belgian French are called ” Belgicisms ” (French: belgicismes ). Incidentally, that term is also used to refer to Dutch words used in Belgium but not in the Netherlands. In general, the francophone upper-middle class and educated speakers understand the meaning and use of words in Standard French,…