BRUSSELS – More than 95% of newly naturalized Belgian citizens in Brussels opted for a French-language ID card over a Dutch-language one last year, underscoring a linguistic divide that has long fueled political tensions in the country’s capital.
The statistic was disclosed by Belgium’s Home Affairs Minister Annelies Verlinden in a written response to Barbara Pas, a Member of Parliament representing the Flemish far-right Vlaams Belang party.
Of the 13,758 individuals who acquired Belgian nationality in Brussels in 2023, only 487 – less than 5% – requested a Dutch-language ID card.
This trend, consistent with previous years, is viewed by Pas as clear evidence of what she calls the “Frenchification” of Brussels, a term used by some Flemish nationalists to describe the diminishing use of Dutch in the officially bilingual capital.
In a trend seen over recent years, the number of people receiving Belgian citizenship in Brussels has been on a steady rise. The city welcomed 8,799 new citizens in 2021, which increased to 11,393 in 2022 and peaked at 13,758 in 2023.
Yet, even as citizenship figures climbed, Dutch-language ID card requests among these new citizens remained low, with only 341 individuals in 2021, 405 in 2022, and 487 in 2023 opting for the Dutch-language version.
Analysts attribute part of the increase in citizenship to the ‘Fast Belgian’ law enacted in 2001, which aimed to simplify the process by relaxing integration requirements, making citizenship more accessible for long-term residents and immigrants.
The legislation, which was introduced to help integrate newcomers more swiftly into Belgian society, has since faced criticism for allegedly compromising language and cultural integration.
Critics argue that the ease of citizenship acquisition, combined with limited language requirements, has contributed to a surge in French preference in Brussels, a multilingual city that historically leans toward French in daily affairs.
The landscape has shifted in recent years as more stringent measures have been introduced, particularly in Flanders, where non-EU citizens seeking Belgian nationality must now complete integration programs that include language courses.
These programs are designed to ensure that newcomers have a working knowledge of Dutch, the region’s official language, as well as a grasp of Flemish society and culture.
Supporters of the stricter criteria argue that a firmer stance on language and integration could help balance the linguistic scales in Brussels, where French has become the predominant language despite the city’s official bilingual status.
However, others note that Brussels’ linguistic diversity is a reflection of its role as an international city and the heart of the European Union.
For politicians like Pas, the preference for French-language ID cards among new citizens is more than a personal choice – it’s a sign of an evolving demographic landscape in Brussels that may have long-term cultural and political consequences.
The Vlaams Belang MP has previously called for additional policies to bolster Dutch language usage in the capital, emphasizing the need to preserve Flanders’ cultural and linguistic heritage within Brussels.
As Brussels continues to welcome new citizens each year, the city’s linguistic dynamics will likely remain a focal point of Belgium’s cultural debate, reflecting deeper questions of identity, integration, and the coexistence of its French- and Dutch-speaking communities.
