Depending on the nature of your business or investment, foreign nationals generally prefer dealing with someone who they can form a good business relationship with. Communication and interpersonal skills are therefore paramount, as well as the ability to be enthused about a product, service or business plan.

Official Languages Of Belgium

No matter how many languages are spoken in Belgium, you should be prepared to deal with all of them, not just one or two primary languages, especially if you hope to do business there. You may want to get a head start on language learning though, or maybe even find an interpreter to help you as you adjust to the Belgian way of life. I do not know how many people would actually go to Belgium solely for the waffles, but there are still a great many additional Belgian festivals that make the journey and life in Belgium worthwhile. Among the more popular are the Bruges Beer Festival and the Salon Du Chocolat Brussels, a comparatively new addition to the list of Belgian festivals that highlights their mastery of chocolate delights. As was previously noted however, language is still a concern of great importance to most of the people living in Belgium, and throughout most of Europe if the truth were to be told. (The French are notoriously finicky about their language, but that is a subject for a different article) If you really want to experience the local cultural “flavors” as it were, you should at least be able to communicate your thoughts in one of the local languages.

Belgium has three official languages: Dutch, French, and German. Close to 60% of the country's population speaks Dutch as their primary language. Dutch is the official language of the Flemish Community and the Flemish Region and, along with French, an official language of the Brussels-Capital Region.

The second-most spoken primary language, used natively by 40% of the population, is French. French is the dominant language in Wallonia as well as the Brussels-Capital Region.

German is the least prevalent official language in Belgium, spoken natively by less than 1% of the population.

Belgium is a multilingual country: the 60% of the Dutch speakers know also French or English, the 20% of the French speakers know Dutch or English.

Translation and Interpretation

When doing business in Belgium It is very likely, at some point, you will need to use a translator. Depending on who you are conversing with, it may be necessary for formal meetings and negotiations that you use an interpreter. Looking ahead, this will help eradicate even the slightest chance of misinterpretation or miscommunication.

Knowledge of the targeting area's language could mean the difference between a deal clincher or calamity, and therefore it would be advisable to hire a reputable translator. Translators will also be able to help you with marketing and advertising. They can ensure you avoid cultural and grammatical faux pas, which could otherwise be detrimental to your business.

Whether its documental, personal on interactive interpretation or translation youre after, there are many fine, highly-qualified companies who can assist you in doing business in Belgium, many of which can be found right here.