What Languages Are Spoken In Antwerp? (Find Out)

The most commonly spoken languages in Antwerp are Dutch, French, and German. The dialect of Dutch used in Antwerp is called Flemish, named after the region of Flanders in Belgium. English and other trade languages are also spoken throughout the city, especially by migrant groups.

Antwerp is situated in the northernmost province of Belgium (also named Antwerp).

It has a flourishing seaport, holds a rich cultural history, and is home to many foreign trade businesses.

Belgium has long been a central point for trade due to its location between the European countries of France, Germany, and the Netherlands.

The proliferation of Dutch in Belgium began in 1815 when Belgium gained freedom from French reign and became part of the Netherlands.

Even so, French is still popular in the southern half of the country and is an official language of Belgium alongside Dutch and German.

In This Article

What is the most common language in Antwerp?

Flemish Dutch is the most commonly spoken language in the city of Antwerp.

Of the city’s around 500,000 official population, 400,000 are Belgian and speak Flemish Dutch.

Belgium was once part of the Netherlands, which has Dutch as its official language and is the closest country to Antwerp.

The Netherlands has always greatly influenced not just the language spoken there but also the country’s culture.

However, the Dutch language spoken in Antwerp and the rest of Belgium has developed into its own dialect to suit the national identity.

Residents of Antwerp have a style of Flemish Dutch unique to the city.

The Flemish variant spoken in Antwerp is an altered version of Brabantian Flemish.

The city’s residents considered their variant to be a very elegant type of Flemish Dutch, distinguishing themselves from other variants in Belgium.

Even with Dutch being so dominant, Antwerp is still a diverse city with many other languages and cultures.

Languages such as French, English, Arabic, Berber, and German are common in the city.

If you’re a tourist looking to visit Antwerp, it’s advisable to learn Dutch to get by in most situations, although many residents will understand French too.

What is Flemish?

Flemish is the dialect of Dutch spoken in the northern half of Belgium.

Many Belgians believe Flemish to be its own language separate from Dutch, but linguists classify Flemish as a Low Franconian dialect cluster of the Dutch language.

As the largest city in Flanders (also known as the Flemish Region of Belgium), Antwerp shares the Flemish language dominance of the region.

Antwerp is only 20 kilometers from the Dutch border and receives many Dutch speakers who continue to influence the city’s culture.

Flemish has four major dialects called West Flemish, East Flemish, Brabantian, and Limburgish. Brabantian is the dialect of Flemish most common in Antwerp.

Outside Belgium, Flemish is native to some areas of the Netherlands and France.

What is Dutch?

Dutch is a West Germanic language spoken by over 25 million people in the world as a first language.

The only Germanic languages more common than Dutch are German and English.

The country with the highest number of Dutch speakers is the Netherlands where the language first originated.

Certain islands in Canada and America used to be part of the Netherlands and have their own accent and sometimes dialect of Dutch.

One of the regions that used to be a part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is Belgium; hence, it has its own dialect of Dutch.

What is the difference between Dutch and Flemish?

Although Dutch and Flemish are very similar, there are some significant differences not immediately apparent to people who don’t speak either language.

Differences between Flemish and Dutch include:

Dutch has a guttural “g” sound, while Flemish has a soft hissing “g” sound.
“W” can be pronounced as a “v” or “w” in Dutch depending on the word, whereas the Flemish “w” will always sound like “w”.
Flemish and Dutch have thousands of words that are spelled differently or even just completely different overall. Some of these words aren’t interchangeable in the same sentence.
Many sentences in Dutch imply the verb, while Flemish will always use verbs in a sentence to make the meaning clear.
Spoken Flemish is much softer than Dutch, which may sometimes come across as aggressive.

What languages do they teach at school in Antwerp?

Schools in Antwerp and across Belgium will teach Dutch most often except in the southern part of the country where French is dominant.

Scholars begin to learn Dutch, English, and French in primary school depending on the region. At the end of primary school, scholars are usually expected to learn another foreign language.

In recent years, with the large number of migrants entering the city, languages such as Arabic, Berber, Polish, and Turkish are becoming more common in schools as the city strives to accommodate their cultures.

What language is designated for official use in Antwerp?

Almost all official documents in Antwerp are in Dutch and may sometimes be translated into French.

All governmental institutions primarily used Dutch. Most newspapers, television, and other media are also in Dutch.

When visiting Antwerp for business reasons, it’s not necessary to speak Dutch or French since most professionals in Antwerp understand English at a basic level, although it’s still advisable to use a translator to avoid miscommunication.

What are the minority languages spoken in Antwerp?

Because Antwerp is a large international port and trade city, many foreigners visit and then stay on permanently.

There are large groups of Chinese, Moroccan, Turkish, Jewish, and Polish people in the city.

The following groups are most common in the city:

Dutch – 15,000 people.
Moroccan – 12,000 people.
Polish – 7,000 people.
Turkish – 5,000 people.
Spanish – 3,000 people.

Antwerp is a multi-cultural city with a diverse range of people groups living in it.

Due to its central location connecting it to many other countries by railway, road, and sea, there are over 168 different languages in the city.

As a hub for international commerce and the de-facto diamond capital of the world, Antwerp enjoys a rich linguistic culture alongside its flourishing economy.

If you’re looking to visit the city, Dutch should be enough to get by, but you may want to learn French too.

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Founder - @PollyWebster

Polly Webster is the founder of Foreign Lingo and a seasoned traveler with a decade of exploration under her belt.

Over the past 10 years, she has journeyed to numerous countries around the globe, immersing herself in diverse cultures, traditions, and languages.

Drawing from her rich experiences, Polly now writes insightful articles about travel, languages, traditions, and cultures, sharing her unique perspectives and invaluable tips with her readers.

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