A cultural travel guide to the world

Etiquette & taboos

Etiquette & taboos

Understanding local customs is where a journey begins. Find the topics that matter to you and feel at ease wherever you go.

Belgium

2 rules found

Local customsEveryday mannersCountry-wide guidance · Belgium

Belgium: greet people in Dutch or French depending on the region

Do

  • In northern Flanders (Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp), use Dutch: 'Goedendag', 'Dank u'
  • In southern Wallonia (Liège, Namur), use French: 'Bonjour', 'Merci'
  • Brussels is bilingual French–Dutch, with French more widely used
  • If unsure, greet in the local language, then ask whether English is OK

Don’t

  • Don't open with French in Flanders or with Dutch in Wallonia
  • Don't joke about the language divide
  • Don't assume everyone speaks English

Belgium has three official languages, Dutch, French and German, with a small German-speaking area in the east. Using the 'wrong' language carries no penalty, but language is a sensitive issue in Belgium and may earn you a cool reception.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: Wikipedia: Languages of Belgium

Local customsEveryday mannersCountry-wide guidance · Belgium

Belgium: shake hands at first meeting; cheek kisses are for people you know

Do

  • Shake hands and make eye contact when meeting someone for the first time or formally
  • Say hello when you enter a shop before asking for anything
  • Let the other person start a cheek kiss and follow their lead

Don’t

  • Don't offer cheek kisses to strangers or people you have just met
  • A cheek kiss is a light touch of cheeks, not a real kiss

There is no penalty. The number of kisses varies: in Flanders usually one, three for celebrations; in Wallonia one or three, and male friends often kiss too.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: Wikipedia: Cheek kissing

Site-specific notes 3

Taken from the "don'ts" on each site page here. Open a site for its full etiquette and background.

Carnival of Binche, Belgium

  • Rushing into the procession to grab oranges
  • touching the Gilles' masks and feather hats
  • setting off fireworks in restricted zones

Ghent

  • Using flash in the altarpiece gallery
  • pushing or running on the castle walls
  • stepping backwards near the edge of waterside steps to frame a shot

Grand Place, Brussels

  • Climbing the façades, statues and fountains
  • entering the Flower Carpet area and ceremony zones