The people who live in Belgium

The people of Belgium are divided into two groups, the Flemish and the Walloons. The Flemish speak a language that is just the same as the Dutch language; some Walloons speak a language which is more like French; but all Belgians speak French. The Walloons are descended from the ancient Belgae, who were the original settlers in this region thousands of years ago. Many of the Walloons came to America, and were among the early settlers along the Hudson River.

The Flemish people are a Germanic people, and most of them live in the northern part of the country.Most of the Belgians are Roman Catholic, although there are also Protestants and Jews. The Belgians are a very energetic and hardworking people. After World War II, many parts of their country were in ruins, but the people quickly got to work, and within a short time they had rebuilt these sections. Like their neighbors the Germans and Dutch, the Belgians are extremely clean and neat. Their houses are always well-scrubbed and tidy, and even their streets and sidewalks are kept spotless.

The Belgians are very friendly and polite, but they are also quite formal. They never drop in to visit one another without an invitation, the way people in the United States do. If you are invited to a Belgian home for dinner, you will find that the favorite food is beefsteak and les pommes frites, which is the French word for French fried potatoes. The Belgians raise many cattle and much of their own fruits and vegetables.