As the language of a country is a vehicle for its cultural heritage, learning it enables better social integration.
Belgium has three official languages: Dutch, French, and German. If you only speak English at the time of your arrival, you will still be able to communicate easily, as many people speak it fluently in Belgium.
Nevertheless, learning at least one of the official languages will make the daily activities (like banking, working, and using public transport) easier. Even knowing just a few words may help you explain your symptoms to your doctor or discuss your child with their school. Learning a local language in Belgium will also improve your job prospects or make school and university courses more accessible.
You'll find plenty of language courses in Brussels, where you can learn French and Dutch as well as other languages. There is a wide range of courses on offer, including private lessons, group courses, at your employer's premises and online.
Courses are offered by private language schools, municipalities, the Flemish and French-speaking Communities and the Chamber of Commerce (which runs courses open to non-degree seeking students in cooperation with the two Brussels universities VUB and ULB).
To compare prices and timetables, you'll need to shop around and see what suits you best.
Huis van het Nederlands Brussel The House of the Dutch Language established a list of all Dutch courses (in-person and online) in Brussels-Capital Region. The aim of this organization is to encourage people to speak Dutch in Brussels by pointing them in the direction of a Dutch course that fits their needs.
Rue Philippe De Champagne 23, 1000 Bruxelles
T: +32 (0)2 501 66 60
Huis van het Nederlands - Brussels
info@huisnederlandsbrussel.be
The site of the Flemish Community Commission
The Flemish Community Commission (VGC) works with numerous Dutch-speaking organisations in Brussels. Their website contains extensive information about learning, leisure activities, living or growing up in Brussels.
VGC - Nederlands in Brussel
La Maison de la Francité
The House of French has compiled a list established by municipality and by alphabetical order of all French courses (online and onsite classes) in Brussels.
18, Rue Joseph II - 1000 Bruxelles
T: +32 (0)2 219 49 33
Maison de la francité - aide à la maîtrise de la langue française
secretariat@maisondelafrancite.be
Prosocbru
Prosocbru is a network of 46 community-run continuing education schools. Check their directory for up to date course information on 11 languages with filters for level, locations and times.
CVO Semper
Extensive offer of language courses for adults in class, online or combined.
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussel
T: +32 (0)2 629 39 08
CVO SEMPER
brussels@cvosemper.be
SIEP
The SIEP (Service d'Information sur les Etudes et les Professions) offers since many years an extensive overview of diverse types of languages courses in Brussels and Belgium.
SIEP - langues (cours)
EPFC
Continuing education school, the EPFC offers a wide range of training on secondary and higher education levels, adapted for job seekers but also accessible to all.
Campus de la Plaine CP 220
Bd du Triomphe, 1 - accès 2 - Bâtiment HA, 1050 Bruxelles
T: +32 (0)2 650 59 59
https://www.epfc.eu/englishinfo@epfc.eu
Alliance Française de Bruxelles-Europe
French courses - Group or private courses in presential or virtual for individuals, companies and institutions.
Address : 46 Av. des Arts 1000 Brussels
Alliance Française - courses
info@alliancefr.be
CLL Language centres
CLL Language Centres offers courses accredited by the European association. Those language courses of different durations and variable intensity organized throughout the year, as well as conversation clubs.
https://www.cll.be/fr/nos-centres-de-formations/cll-bruxelles
Address: Avenue de Kraainem 61 -1200 Woluwe-Saint-Lambert
E-mail : contact@cll.be
Berlitz
Berlitz offers classes designed for children, adults, and companies, with in-person and online options
Address: Avenue Herrmann Debroux, 54, 1160 Auderghem
Nederlands Academy
School offering only Dutch language courses for children, adults and companies, online or face-to-face
Address: Avenue Louise 54, 1050 Bruxelles (Silversquare at 3td floor)
Amira Language School
Amira Language School offers language courses in Brussels, at school and in companies, in groups or individual lessons. It is a government partner school with Actiris, providing free language lessons to job-seekers registered with the city.
Address : Avenue Brugmann 32
1060 Bruxelles
Europa Language School
Europa Language School offers more than 15 language courses including French and Dutch and focus on tailored individual courses for professionals, academics, and newcomers to Brussels.
Address : 717A Chaussée de Waterloo-1180 Bruxelles
E : elsb@elsb.be
F9 Language in Brussels
This school offers Dutch, French, and German lessons to individuals and companies.
Dorifor
DORIFOR is a database run by Bruxelles Formation. It lists training courses, including language courses for adults, in the Brussels Region.
Click on "Trouver”/Find a course" and select "Langues/Languages" in the field (“Domaine”), then the language of your choice in the sub-field (“Sous-domaine”).
Free/Low-Cost language learning
Most of the courses charge a tuition fee, but Brussels offers two routes to free or low-cost language learning.
The first requires being a resident in one of the Brussels's 19 communes. For these residents, the Flemish government sponsors beginner Dutch courses (level 1 and 2) within its “Dutch as a Foreign Language”(or NT2) programme administered by Flemish Continuing and Basic Education Centres (CVOs).
The second route is though Belgium’s respective regional employment offices (Actiris, VDAB and Forem). All three offer a variety of language courses for free to registered job-seeker, such as Bruxelles Formation langues organized by Actiris. For those about to begin a new job, these offices offer language cheques-allowing its holder free private or group lessons-for those aiming to improve their skills in Dutch, French, English or German.
Community-run continuing education schools are not for free, but not very expensive either.