Do They Speak English in Ghent?

English proficiency by sector

Universal English: Hotels, restaurants, museums, gift shops, bike rental shops, tour guides, transport staff (tram, train), supermarkets. You will not be stranded.

Common English: Young people under 30. Street food vendors usually manage basic English. Locals who live and work in the tourist centre.

Variable English: Older locals (60+). People working in the industrial suburbs (not the centre). Very small family restaurants off the beaten path. Most still understand and will try to help.

Where English is most reliable

Tourist centre (Graslei, Gravensteen, Belfry, St Bavo area): English works 95%. Every restaurant, every guide, every shop. Patershol (residential lanes): English still common (80%+). Cafes and small restaurants usually have staff who speak it. Suburbs and outer neighbourhoods: English drops to 50–70%. Train and bus staff speak English. Small shops may not. But patience and smiling gets you there.

Transport: buying tickets and asking directions

Tram & bus (De Lijn): Ticket machines have an English option. Apps are available in English. Staff at the station speak English. Mobile app "De Lijn" is easiest; set to English in settings. You can buy online before arriving.

Train (Belgium Railways): Ticket machines and websites are bilingual (Dutch/French). English option often available. Staff at information desks speak English. Plan ahead on belgian-train.be (available in English).

Asking directions: Say "Excuse me, English?" Most people (under 50) will help or find someone who can. Young people carry phones and can translate. Locals are patient with tourists.

Restaurants & food

Menus: Tourist-facing restaurants have English menus (or photos). Casual spots may only have Dutch/French. Point at what appeals or ask "What is this?" or "Waterzooi, please."

Ordering: Waitstaff speak English. Say the dish name if it helps, or describe: "I want vegetables in cream sauce." Waterzooi staff know it’s always ordered, even by tourists.

Dietary needs: Say "I am vegetarian" or "I cannot eat gluten." Staff will help and know common terms. Thursday Veggieday (plant-based restaurant promos) is well-publicized.

Tipping: Not expected, but 5–10% appreciated. Round up or leave loose change; staff won’t be offended if you don’t.

Language nuance: Dutch, Flemish, French

Local language: Dutch, called Flemish in this region (same language, regional dialect). Spoken by all locals. Flanders: The northern half of Belgium (Ghent, Bruges, Antwerp). Dutch-speaking. Brussels is officially bilingual (Dutch/French) but French-leaning. Wallonia: The southern half (Liège, Mons). French-speaking.

Never lead with French in Ghent. It can offend (perceived as Walloon or assuming they’re French). English is much safer. If you speak French and locals understand, great; just start in English or Dutch.

Pronunciation cue: "Gent" is "HENT" (hard G, like the Spanish jota). The city name is Dutch, not French.

Useful Dutch phrases (5 essentials)

• "Bedankt" (buh-DAHKT) — Thank you. Always say this. Locals love it. Most important.
• "Alstublieft" (AHL-stoo-BLAYT) — Please.
• "Goedemorgen" (hoo-duh-MOR-huh) — Good morning.
• "Hoeveel kost het?" (HOO-fale COST het) — How much does it cost?
• "Nee, bedankt" (nay, buh-DAHKT) — No, thank you. Polite refusal.

You do not need to learn Dutch to visit. English works. But these five words—especially "Bedankt"—will earn you a smile from locals.

Signs & menus

Street signs and monument plaques are in Dutch only. But information panels at major sights (Gravensteen, St Bavo, Belfry) have English translations. Tourist maps are English/Dutch/French. Menu photos at restaurants make ordering easy without reading.

Emergency & help

Police and ambulance staff speak English. Tourist information office (at Sint-Jacobs, city centre) has English-speaking staff. Hotels can call for help if needed. Translation apps (Google Translate, DeepL) work offline for Dutch–English.

Frequently asked questions