English Becomes Most Spoken Language Among Belgian Youth, Surpassing French and Dutch

Brussels, Belgium – English has overtaken both French and Dutch as the most widely spoken language among young people in Belgium, marking a significant linguistic shift in the country.

According to new data from languageknowledge.eu, 60.5% of Belgians aged 15 to 34 report having a ‘good to very good knowledge’ of English, compared to 57.1% for Dutch and 56.3% for French.

The findings make Belgium unique in Europe, as it is the only country where the most spoken language among young people is not one of its official languages.

The rise of English among the younger generation highlights an evolving linguistic landscape, fueled by increased exposure to English-language media, social platforms, and global communication trends.

Generational Shifts and Rising English Proficiency

The dominance of English among younger Belgians is a sharp contrast to older generations. In the 35-54 age group, French remains the most widely spoken language (72.8%), while Dutch follows at 52.6%.

Among those over 55, language proficiency aligns more closely with Belgium’s official linguistic divide, with 67.6% speaking French and 64.8% speaking Dutch.

“The rise of English across generations and countries is pretty striking,” said Jonathan Van Parys, the creator of languageknowledge.eu. “English is on its way to becoming the most widely spoken language in Belgium, as people’s knowledge of it is clearly increasing.”

Van Parys attributes this trend to the widespread influence of English-language media, including television, film, music, and social media platforms.

He also noted that English is increasingly used as a lingua franca for business, academia, and international interactions, reinforcing its prominence.

Implications for Brussels and Official Language Policy

The growing prevalence of English has reignited discussions about its potential recognition as an official language in Brussels.

The Belgian capital, home to European Union institutions and a large expatriate community, already sees English used extensively in professional and social settings. However, its status remains unofficial, with French and Dutch as the city’s official languages.

Proponents of making English an official language argue that it would facilitate communication for Brussels’ international residents, many of whom struggle with Dutch or French. Others, however, caution against undermining the country’s existing linguistic framework.

Post-Brexit English Growth Across Europe

The rise of English in Belgium is part of a broader European trend. Despite the UK’s exit from the European Union in 2020, the use of English across the continent remains strong. In 2012, 39% of the EU population spoke English; in 2024, the figure stands at 35.5%.

While Brexit removed 60 million native English speakers from EU statistics, younger generations have offset much of this decline.

“The youth has massively compensated for this loss,” Van Parys noted. “The English numbers among the 15-34 age group nearly doubled – nearly compensating for the disappearance of an entire country.”

With English continuing to gain ground among younger Europeans, its role as the continent’s primary common language appears more entrenched than ever.

In Belgium, its rapid rise raises questions about future linguistic policies and how the country will navigate its multilingual identity in the decades to come.

 

This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members

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