Between the 1950s and 1960s, Belgium was divided mainly between three language communities:
Three language communities
1. Flemish Community (Dutch-speaking)
- Location: Flanders region (north of Belgium)
- Population: Around 55-60% of the total population
- Language: Dutch (often called Flemish in Belgium)
2. French-speaking Community
- Location: Wallonia (southern Belgium) and Brussels
- Population: Around 30-35%
- Language: French
3. German-speaking Community
- Location: Eastern part of Belgium (near the German border)
- Population: Small minority, around 0.5-1%
- Language: German
Important Context (1950sā60s):
- Tensions were rising between the Dutch-speaking Flemish and the French-speaking Walloons.
- Flemish people felt discriminated against in terms of language, education, and job opportunities.
- This led to language laws being passed in the 1960s to protect Dutch language rights.
- In 1962-63, Belgium was officially divided into language regions, marking a major step toward the current federal structure.
The community distribution in Brussels during the 1950s and 1960s was unique compared to the rest of Belgium. Brussels is the capital city and sits in the Flemish region, but over time, it became largely French-speaking.
š§šŖ Community Distribution in Brussels (1950sā1960s)
| Community | Approx. % of Population | Language |
|---|---|---|
| French-speaking | ~70ā80% | French |
| Dutch-speaking (Flemish) | ~20ā30% | Dutch (Flemish) |
| Others (including immigrants) | Small % | Various languages |
š Key Points:
- Brussels was historically Dutch-speaking, but due to "Frenchification", more people began speaking French.
- Many Flemish people switched to French to gain better jobs or social status.
- French became dominant in administration, education, and public life.
- By the 1960s, Brussels was officially bilingual, but the number of native French speakers was much higher.
- The 1962ā63 language border laws officially made Brussels-Capital bilingual, even though it is surrounded by Dutch-speaking Flanders.