Belgium: Conversation

From ExecutivePlanet.com

Welcome topics of conversation

Belgians are affable people who enjoy café society and relish an opportunity for intelligent, if not always necessarily serious, conversation in congenial surroundings with, they hope, like-minded company.

You will encounter a lively hubbub in bars and restaurants, but this is northern Europe and not the Mediterranean, so you should try to speak in a low, moderate tone at all times, regardless of the topic you are discussing; expressing too much excitement or animation is usually frowned upon.

In general, Belgians never discuss personal subjects. It is inappropriate to begin a conversation here with the up-front question 'What do you do?' as you might in North America. Similarly you should endeavour to remain modest about your own wealth and professional accomplishments. Self-aggrandisement is despised here.

If Belgium perhaps lacks a particular cultural identity, it is, of course, because of the pervasive Dutch and French influences. The linguistic divide that cuts Belgium in half can be a highly sensitive subject and you must make an effort not to confuse the two [or even three, if we include German] cultural groups and their languages. However, the level of antagonism is much exaggerated and any tribalism that may exist lies more in pride in one's Flemish or Walloon roots than in hostility towards members of the other community. Ethnic, linguistic and religious biases do persist, but most Belgians are Catholic [75%] and bi- or tri-lingual. For the visiting businessman, there are only three important rules:

Do not speak French to a Fleming [he may resent it];

Do not speak Dutch to a Walloon [he probably won't understand it];

Do not speak German to any Belgian outside the tiny German enclave.

Nevertheless, there is a certain snobbish dimension that attaches itself to these linguistic divisions. Just as the French tend to look down on Walloons and Parisians look down on the rest of France, the Walloons feel superior to the Flemings whilst French-speakers in Brussels generally believe they are of a higher class than all other Belgians put together.

If your Belgian geography is not quite up to speed, you can always tell whether a company is Flemish or Walloon by the initials after its name: the former are either NV [public] or BVBA [private]; the latter are either SA [public] or SPRL [private].

Welcome Topics of Conversation:

The part of Belgium you are currently visiting/your travels in other parts of Belgium;

Belgian food and beer;

Belgian art and architecture;

Sport [especially cycling and soccer].

Topics to Avoid:

Belgian history [too painful for the most part];

The Germans [see above];

Politics;

Any perceived lack of a distinctive 'Belgian culture';

The various languages spoken in Belgium;

Ethnic jokes about either Flemings or Walloons or both.

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