Destination: BELGIUM
Essential Info PreTrip Essentials Customs/Money Communications Hours/Holidays Health Driving Language National Transportation Offices to Serve You Abroad	USEFUL WORDS AND PHRASES A linguistic battle has existed in Belgium for many centuries; settlers have long entered from neighboring countries, and as a result there are three distinct language communities: French, Dutch and German. The two dominant languages are Walloon (a form of French, spoken in the south) and Flemish (a dialect of Dutch, spoken in the north). Passions run deep between the two groups; prosperity has moved back and forth between them over the centuries, and their relationship is still difficult to this day. The Flemish fear their language is being diminished, aware of the strength that French has as a world language. Both Walloon and Flemish hold equal status as official languages, and although the bilingual signs can be confusing to the visitor, English is widely spoken. In Brussels, where Flemish and French are both spoken, the street signs also are in both languages. Place names are not usually a problem, since the Flemish and French proper names have similarities, but there can be differences. Following is a selection of locations: English Flemish French Aalst Aalst Alost Antwerp Antwerpen Anvers Bruges Brugge Bruges Brussels Brussel Bruxelles Ghent Gent Gand Jodoigne Geldenaken Jodoigne Kortrijk Kortrijk Courtrai Liège Luik Liège Louvain Leuven Louvain Mechelen Mechelen Malines Mons Bergen Mons Mouscron Moeskroen Mouscron Nivelles Nijvel Nivelles Ostend Oostende Ostende Roeselare Roeselare Roulers Ronse Ronse Renaix Scheldt Schede Escaut Tongeren Tongeren Tongres Tournai Doornik Tournai Veurne Veurne Furnes Ypres Ieper Ypres	COUNTRY Introduction Things To Know Survival Guide TimeLine Essential Info REGION CITIES Brussels Bruges Ghent MAPS World Europe TRAVEL BOOK