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German: Belgium's One of the Official Language

German is one of the three officially recognized languages in Belgium along with Dutch and French. There are some 100,000 German speakers in Belgium today; 69,000 living in the areas where German is officially recognized around St Vith and Eupen, and some 20,000-25,000 in the unrecognized areas which include Montzen and Arel.

Author:Dexter Cooke
Reviewer:Darren Mcpherson
Mar 11, 2021
131.1K Shares
2.9M Views

Overview Of The Language

German is one of the three officially recognized languages in Belgium along with Dutch and French.
There are some 100,000 German speakers in Belgium today; 69,000 living in the areas where German is officially recognized around St Vith and Eupen, and some 20,000-25,000 in the unrecognized areas which include Montzen and Arel. The German-speaking region comprises 9 municipalities in the eastern part of the province of Liège, which is within the French-speaking area of Belgium.
The official German language community, die Deutschsprachige Gemeinschaft Belgiens has an elected cultural parliament, the "Rat der Deutschsprachigen Gemeinschaft" and a regional government, the "Exekutive der Deutschsprachigen Gemeinschaft". These two bodies administer the autonomous authority given to the German-speaking community, which, since 1988, includes almost complete responsibility for education.

Overview Of The Media

The German-speaking community in Belgium has an official state-owned radio station, the BRF - Belgischer Rundfunk der Deutschsprachigen Gemeinschaft- which broadcasts entirely in German for 16 hours a day and can technically reach a potential audience of 1 million German-speaking listeners. In addition, there are 9 private radio stations that Care officially recognized and given frequencies by the government of the German-speaking community - Ministerium der Deutschsprachigen Gemeinschaft. They broadcast almost entirely in German for up to 24 hours a day on various wavelengths in certain localities and regions. These include Radio Aktivität and Radio Fantasy.
The Medienzentrum in Eupen which is the main central library in Eastern Belgium and the main center for documenting videos, cassettes, and CDs, is responsible for coordinating German language programs broadcast on television via the satellite channel Télévesdre.
There is one German daily newspaper, "Grenz-Echo" which is prepared, published, and distributed by "Grenz-Echo Verlag" situated in Eupen. The paper covers international and regional news, current affairs, and regional culture and has a circulation of around 13 500. The publishing house is also responsible for a monthly German magazine published in Brussels "Der Kontakt" and annually produces a selection of books that range from cultural, political, and regional interests to novels. A total of 10 books were published in 1994.
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Dexter Cooke

Dexter Cooke

Author
Dexter Cooke is an economist, marketing strategist, and orthopedic surgeon with over 20 years of experience crafting compelling narratives that resonate worldwide. He holds a Journalism degree from Columbia University, an Economics background from Yale University, and a medical degree with a postdoctoral fellowship in orthopedic medicine from the Medical University of South Carolina. Dexter’s insights into media, economics, and marketing shine through his prolific contributions to respected publications and advisory roles for influential organizations. As an orthopedic surgeon specializing in minimally invasive knee replacement surgery and laparoscopic procedures, Dexter prioritizes patient care above all. Outside his professional pursuits, Dexter enjoys collecting vintage watches, studying ancient civilizations, learning about astronomy, and participating in charity runs.
Darren Mcpherson

Darren Mcpherson

Reviewer
Darren Mcpherson brings over 9 years of experience in politics, business, investing, and banking to his writing. He holds degrees in Economics from Harvard University and Political Science from Stanford University, with certifications in Financial Management. Renowned for his insightful analyses and strategic awareness, Darren has contributed to reputable publications and served in advisory roles for influential entities. Outside the boardroom, Darren enjoys playing chess, collecting rare books, attending technology conferences, and mentoring young professionals. His dedication to excellence and understanding of global finance and governance make him a trusted and authoritative voice in his field.
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