Belgian Community in Birmingham

Where they come from

Belgium lies in western Europe, between France, Germany and the Netherlands, and is home to Brussels, the seat of the European Union. It has three official languages: Dutch, French and German. Belgians in Birmingham include professionals, academics, students and families.

The community in numbers

At the 2021 Census, out of a city population of 1,144,919, 86 Birmingham residents described their ethnic group as Belgian.

Working for Birmingham

Belgian residents work in business, finance, research, engineering, healthcare and education, and many are multilingual, a valued skill in the city's international companies. Belgian academics teach at Birmingham's universities.

Much of the work that keeps Birmingham moving happens out of sight: the night shift on a hospital ward, the early start on a building site, the plumber who fixes a boiler on a winter evening, the teaching assistant who helps a child learn to read. People from every community in the city do these jobs, and Belgian residents are part of that everyday effort to make Birmingham a better place to live.

Culture and community life

Belgian chocolate, waffles and fries are loved around the world, a fitting match for Birmingham, home of Cadbury. Belgium is also famous for its beers, recognised by UNESCO, and for its comic strip art, including Tintin. National Day on 21 July is a time of celebration. Belgian cyclists are legendary, and the country's passion for the sport is shared by many Belgians living abroad.

In a city where scores of languages are spoken, the Belgian community adds another voice to the conversation. Its members, old and new, are helping to make Birmingham the confident, outward-looking city it wants to be.