Belgian Culture and Customs - What Expats Should Know

There are lots of things to consider and know when you are moving to a brand new country. However, one thing that you should never overlook, is what types of customs and cultural points you are going to need to get to grips with.

The last thing that you are going to want to do is to find that you offend someone who lives in your new home or that you are making some mistakes that could make it harder for you to settle and to be accepted. 

To help you to make sure that this isn’t the case for you, we have put together our guide to some of the Belgian cultures and customs that it is important for expats to know!

1. The Basics of Belgium

   
   

   

   Belgium on the World Map

   
   

Before we dive into the key parts of Belgian etiquette that you need to know, let’s take a moment to learn more about the basic culture and society that make up this country. Belgium is culturally diverse and through the dense population that it has, there are three national languages. Which one is spoken depends largely on where you are in the country.

In the north, you will find Dutch, in the south French and in the east are those who speak German. That said, most people do speak English in Belgium, which can be helpful if you are concerned that language may be an issue.

There is a real sense of regional identity in Belgium, rather than being a part of a wider country. Which is something that is important to recognise. 

2. They have worked hard on gender equality.

   
   

   

   
   

Gender equality is something that is very important to those who live in Belgium. So much so, that since the 1980s, the country has been recognised for making strong efforts in order to promote gender equality. To add to this, in 2002 they added to their Belgian Constitution a guarantee of equality between men and women. 

There are a number of policies in place that are designed to help ensure that equality is a focus for those in the country and keeping charge of this and ensuring that they are implemented is something that the regional authorities focus on. 

Whilst there have been huge steps forward throughout the country for gender equality, there are still some examples of why this work is needed. Women still earn less than their male counterparts in some sectors and many women find that they fulfil domestic roles rather than the professional ones that are dominated by men. 

3. Always start with a handshake

   
   

   

   
   

Whilst there are some countries in Europe that are known for taking an incredibly tactile approach to meeting and greeting people, this is not always true in Belgium. It is common to greet people, even if it is a more casual situation with a handshake. Rather than being seen as more formal as it is in other countries, introducing yourself in this way is a respectful gesture.

Once you have gotten to know the other person and you feel comfortable to relaxed when it comes to greeting them, then you can switch to the three-cheek kisses. That said, if you are a man in Flanders, you will often find that this particular greeting is reserved for women rather than men. However, in other parts of Belgium, both men and women are going to be greeted in the same way. 

4. Pre-planning and punctuality are very important

One thing that is often seen as being important to those who live in Belgium is the idea of being punctual. If you are late, no matter that is a meeting with friends, work or perhaps an appointment; then there is a good chance that you are going to be seen as rude or that you are not thinking about the other person or people. 

Of course, things do happen which can impact how soon you can get there, all you need to do is make sure that you contact the person and let them know that you are on the way. 

Another thing that Belgians see as important is pre-planning, by this we mean that you should let someone know what your plans are. If you are going to pop over to see someone, then you should always let them know, turning up unannounced could be seen as being disrespectful of their time or their space, as you just assume that they are going to be there and waiting for you. 

5. Belgian people can be quite reserved

   
   

   

   Antwerpen city, Belgium

   
   

Belgians, for the most part, are often seen as being quite reserved in their behaviour and the things that they choose to share or talk about. This is particularly true when it comes to public spaces or with people that they simply feel that they don’t know very well. 

Many Belgians are masters of subtlety, which can make conversations somewhat tricky if you are not someone who will easily pick up on this. As well as this, they often see people who are confrontational as rude and will approach any arguments or issues that they have in a logical way rather than an emotional one.

6. Avoid certain topics of conversation

Following on from the above point, to avoid getting into any disagreements it is often advisable to stay away from certain topics when having conversations with people in Belgium. This includes politics, personal appearance, religion and also anything that relates to how much someone earns or the wealth that they have. 

Many people who live here are considered to be modest and they will not often be the kind of person who brags about what they have and will want to share this with others, particularly those that they don’t know very well. 

 Now you know how to behave and make friends in Belgium, the time has come to think about whether you are ready to make that big move. If you are concerned about how you are going to take care of your belongings when it comes to relocating to Belgium, then the good news is that we have you covered!

Get in touch with us here at Pinnacle Removals and learn more about how we can make sure that your big move doesn’t have to cause you a big headache! 

Credit for image:

Marc Ryckaert (MJJR), CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons