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

4 rules found

Local customsPublic transportCountry-wide guidance · Belgium

Belgium: queue in order and keep quiet on transport and at night

Do

Join the end of the line in shops, bakeries and stations
Let passengers get off before you board
Talk quietly on board and use headphones for music
Keep your voice down in residential streets at night
Greet staff when entering shops and be on time for appointments

Don’t

Don't cut in line or hurry people in the queue
Don't stand or stroll side by side in bike lanes

There is no penalty, but it causes irritation; standing in a bike lane also risks a collision with fast-moving cyclists.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: Advisor.travel: Belgium

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

Local customsTippingCountry-wide guidance · Belgium

Belgium: service is included; round up or tip about 5–10% if pleased

Do

For good restaurant service, round up or leave about 5–10%
In cafés and bars, leaving some change is enough
Round up taxi fares; give porters a little per bag
Carry some euro cash for stalls and markets that take cash only
If unsure whether cards are accepted, ask before ordering

Don’t

Don't treat a tip as compulsory: service is usually included in the price
Don't pay with €200 or €500 notes; most shops refuse them

Not tipping is not rude. Since July 2022 Belgian businesses must by law offer at least one electronic payment method, but which cards are accepted varies, and cash is still accepted.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: Official site: visit.brussels – Money, currency and change

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