Hi there

We my be transferred to Brussels early next year and while the co. will cover most costs the kids will need to go to local schools. My question is are they flemmish or French in Brussels or are there both and you can choose?
My children are 3, 6 and 10.

Thanks

In Brussels (the 19 communes of the Brussels Capital Region) one will find a complete range of French schools and a complete range of Dutch (= Flemish) schools, including Universities. Both ranges are supposed to give EXTRA HOURS attention to the other language (as compared with the schools in Flanders or in Wallonia). In practice, this only materializes in the Dutch schools. In some schools teaching of the other language starts after 2 or 3 years, in others right from the start. There are also "immersion" pilot projects, in which complete courses, for example geography, are given in the other language (this is of course meant for high school students).

Thanks, that's really helpful. Does that mean you can choose which one you want to send your child to?

Sorry but the above answer is simply not correct. In Belgium, the teaching and learning of the other language (French or Dutch) is COMPULSORY from 3rd primary until I believe 2nd secondary (not sure about latter as haven't go there yet), perhaps the tiny German region has its own separate arrangements. 3rd primary is children who are 8 years old when starting the school year by 31st December (plus any children who have redoubled a year). It does not matter whether you are at Dutch school or French speaking school.

In Brussels, you have a rather unusual situation in that 80% of the children are French speaking, 20% are Dutch speaking, but only around 60% of the school places are French speaking, the other 40% being Dtuch speaking. This means many of the Dutch schools contain high numbers of French first language speakers and this is becoming a highly popular option for parents whose first language is French as they realise that Dutch is really useful to have in Brussels, even if it is the minority language as many jobs require fluency in both languages and traditionally Dutch speakers have taken to French far more easily than the French speakers have to Dutch.

So if you are looking at Dutch schools for your children in Brussels and do not speak either Dutch or French, be aware that the dominant language in the playground may well be French and Dutch in the classroom, which is not an ideal situation in which to learn Dutch if you can't speak French!

The French schools in the eastern and southern areas of Brussels which are more affluent also contain many expat children for whom French is not their first language, to a far lesser extent the Dutch schools also contain expat children but if you are looking for Dutch, I'd advise Vlaams Brabant in area like Tervuren, Sterrebeek, Hoeilaart, Overijse as better options and they are all just outside Brussels. French schools in Woluwe St Lambert, Woluwe St Pierre and Uccle are particularly favoured by expat families.