Belgium Languages

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The FamilySearch moderator for Belgium is Daniel Jones.

Belgium

Languages

The major languages of records in Belgium are Flemish (Dutch) in the North, and Walloon (French) in the South, and German in the East. Latin was used extensively, particularly in Catholic records.

Belgium has always been linguistically divided and to this day there is much political division between the different regions of Belgium.

Belgium can be divided into four broad regions:

In Flanders (Vlaanderen), the language was and is Flemish, a variant of Dutch

In Brussels, the local language was traditionally Flemish, but since 1800 has been progressively displaced by French. Brussels has been designated a bilingual area but in practice only 10% of modern day Brussels speaks Dutch.

In Wallonia, the local language is French.

In parts of Liege that were annexed from Germany following WW1, German is still used.

What a genealogist needs to know is:

Catholic church records always used Latin. Other churches used the local language.

Civil registration and government records can be written in either French or Flemish depending on the area and the political situation at the time.

Any other records are likely to be written in the local language.

Dutch Records

• Dutch Genealogical Word List
• Reading Dutch Birth Records (PDF)
• Reading Dutch Marriage Records (PDF)
• Reading Dutch Death Records (PDF)

Classes in the FamilySearch Learning Center

• Beginner Dutch Handwriting
• Names in Belgium and the Netherlands

German Records

• It's easier than you think! You do not have to be fluent in French and German to use these records, as there is only a limited vocabulary used in them. By learning a few key phrases, you will be able to read them adequately. Here are some resources for learning to read German records:
• German Genealogical Word List
• Germany Handwriting
• Brigham Young University German Script Tutorial

These video webinars will teach you to read German handwriting:

• German Paleography Seminar - 10 lessons
• Old German Script Part 1
• Old German Script Part 2
• Old German Script (German Church and Civil Records) Part 3

The Deutsche Kurrenschrift converter will show you how any phrase or name might look in German script. Click on Schreibübung (Writing exercise), type a word and click on umwandeln (convert) to view the word in Kurrentschrift.

French Records

You do not have to be fluent in French to use these records, as there is only a limited vocabulary used in them. By learning a few key phrases, you will be able to read them adequately. These articles will be useful in helping you learn to read French records: French Genealogical Word List and French Handwriting. For additional help see France Church Records and France Civil Registration.

Latin Records

Catholic church records will usually be written in Latin. See Latin Genealogical Word List for an explanation of Latin grammar and glossary of genealogical terms.