Language Dispute Erupts on Belgian Train over Greeting Choices

A train attendant's use of both Dutch and French prompted a heated exchange with a Dutch-speaking passenger, leading to a formal complaint and a ruling by Belgium’s Permanent Commission for Linguistic Control about language protocols on public transport.

In Belgium, where Dutch, French, and German coexist as official languages, a train attendant’s decision to greet passengers with both “goeiemorgen” and “bonjour” has sparked a significant debate over language use. The incident occurred last year during the busy rush hour at a train station in Leuven. While the multilingual greeting may have seemed harmless to many, it did not sit well with one Dutch-speaking commuter.

The commuter confronted the train attendant, Ilyass Alba, asserting that speaking French was inappropriate in the Dutch-speaking region, stating, “You need to speak in Dutch.” This prompted Mr. Alba to defend his choice in French, inevitably drawing attention from those nearby. What began as a personal grievance escalated when the displeased passenger lodged an official complaint with Belgium’s Permanent Commission for Linguistic Control.

After a thorough review that lasted five months, the commission released its findings in March, declaring that the complaint was “well founded.” Their conclusion underscored the intricacies of Belgium’s administrative language laws, which stipulate that public service employees must respond in the language of the passenger as soon as it is determined, be it French or Dutch.

In light of the commission's statement, the ruling emphasized that the train attendant, when aware of a passenger's preferred language, should have greeted them accordingly. The incident serves as a reminder of the ongoing linguistic tensions within Belgium’s regions, delineating a clear divide between the Dutch-speaking Flanders and French-speaking Wallonia.