Language Immersion Courses in Belgium

Belgium has three national languages, Dutch, French and German, and education is run by the Flemish, French-speaking and German-speaking Communities rather than by the federal government. For a language learner this means real choice: Dutch in Flanders, French in Wallonia and both in Brussels; many schools and universities also teach in English.

Our directory lists one private language school in Belgium, in Brussels. Many students also learn French or Dutch at a university language centre or through public adult-education courses, which this page covers too.

How language courses work in Belgium

There are three main routes. Most universities have a language centre that teaches French or Dutch as a foreign language, according to the federal portal belgium.be, and social promotion institutes (public adult education) run courses at different times of the day. In Brussels, the Dutch Language House (Huis van het Nederlands) gives free advice and level tests and enrols learners in Dutch courses at a centre for adult education (CVO) or at Ligo Brusselleer: intensive, standard or slow-paced, online or in the classroom. Private schools add flexible one-to-one and small-group teaching.

The Europa Language School (ELSB), registered as AAA Europa Language School ASBL, is a non-profit school established in Brussels in 1990, at Chaussée de Waterloo in Uccle. It teaches more than 15 languages, including French, Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Russian, Polish, Swedish, Japanese and Chinese, and focuses on tailored courses for professionals, academics and newcomers to Brussels. Its formats include:

• One-to-one and small-group courses, face to face or online, with the same price for 1 to 5 students
• Two-week intensive group courses in French, Dutch and English during school holidays, with morning or evening sessions and 4 to 6 students per class
• Courses with specialist vocabulary, for example for finance, medicine or business
• Preparation for official language tests

Levels follow the Common European Framework of Reference (A1 to C2), and courses start with oral and written tests and an assessment of the learner's goals.

Admission and visas

Language courses have no academic entry requirements; a level test decides where you start. Students from outside the EU should check the entry rules first. A short stay in the Schengen Area, which includes Belgium, cannot exceed 90 days in any 180-day period, and nationals of some countries need a short-stay visa. The Immigration Office's student residence rules for stays longer than 90 days are aimed mainly at people studying at a recognised higher education institution, so a long stay for a language course alone should be checked with the Belgian embassy before you enrol.

To prove your level of Dutch, the Dutch Language House in Brussels runs certification tests that lead to an official certificate.

Costs

Public courses are the cheapest option. For people domiciled in Brussels, a Dutch course at a lower level costs at most 48 euros and at a higher level at most 134 euros, and the test and advice at the Dutch Language House are free. At ELSB, according to the prices on its website (not dated), private or small-group lessons in French, Dutch, English, German, Spanish or Italian cost 40 to 46 euros per 60 minutes depending on the number of hours booked, and 50 to 57 euros for languages such as Russian, Polish or Chinese. Holiday group courses cost 21 to 29 euros per lesson, plus a 15 euro registration and materials fee.

How to choose a language course in Belgium

• Language and region: Dutch is spoken day to day in Flanders, French in Wallonia; Brussels offers both
• Public or private: public adult education is cheap but follows fixed terms; private schools offer flexible timetables at a higher price
• Format: intensive, evening or online; one-to-one or group
• Goal: daily life, work vocabulary, university entry or an official certificate
• Length of stay: check whether you need a visa and how long you may stay

Frequently asked questions

Can I learn both French and Dutch in Belgium?

Yes. Both are national languages, and in Brussels both are taught by universities, public adult-education centres and private schools.

How much does a Dutch course cost in Brussels?

For people domiciled in Brussels, a public Dutch course costs at most 48 euros at lower levels and 134 euros at higher levels; advice and the level test at the Dutch Language House are free.

Do I need a visa for a language course in Belgium?

EU citizens do not. Others can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period under Schengen rules, with a visa if their nationality requires one; longer stays should be checked with the Belgian embassy.

Can I prepare for an official language exam?

Yes. ELSB prepares students for official language tests, and the Dutch Language House in Brussels runs certification tests for Dutch.