Flemish is based on Dutch, it can be a bit different from region to region. There are really a lot of dialects, but we can all understand each other!Originally Posted by phesina
The Dutch spoken in the Netherlands and the Dutch spoken in Belgium is almost equal, only the accent is a bit different.
Then have the 3 languages spoken in Belgium. Nearly half the Belgians has Dutch as mother tongue. They all live in the north and western part of the country. This known as "Flanders".
The eastern and southern part of Belgium speaks French, the region is called "Wallonia".
Then there is a small region in the east of Belgium where German is spoken. This is a leftover from the 2nd world war; Germany was forced to give a small part of their country to Belgium as payment for the war.
You are right about official papers. They all have to be in 3 languages!
Because of this diversity of language, we already start with learning a second language at the age of 10. In Flanders that second language is French, and in Wallonia it is Dutch.
As from age 13 we all start to learn a 3rd language. But that is NOT German, but English. Students want to learn German too, can do that by following German in highschool, starting at age 15.
Of course most people are not fluent in all languages, but most people speak at least 2 languages, and most people understand a bit of German because German has the same roots as Dutch.
I can speak all 4 languages fluently, and I also speak enough Spanish to make myself understandable in Spain!
I hope I made myself clear!?
Be happy there at the Rainbow Bridge 
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