Best language schools in Belgium for French and Dutch (2026)
Updated · figures checked 2 November 2026
The short version
- Learning Dutch in Brussels: start at the Huis van het Nederlands. Advice and the level test are free, and it enrols you in a subsidised course at a CVO or Ligo.
- Want to enrol online without a visit: CVO Semper has an online entry test and online enrolment for its Dutch modules.
- Learning French cheaply: EPFC runs long, certificate-bearing modules in Brussels, but the test and enrolment happen on site.
- Working full time and want French fast: Alliance Française has frequent start dates, an English website and online enrolment, at a much higher price per hour.
- The rule that matters: your official address decides your price. Registered Brussels residents pay far less for Dutch at public adult schools, so register at the commune before you enrol.
Values link to the provider page we read on the date shown on hover. Prices change: confirm on the provider's site before you sign.
This guide is for people who have moved to Belgium, or are about to, and want to learn French or Dutch in a classroom. It covers the public adult education schools in Brussels (Dutch and French), the free orientation service for Dutch learners, and three private schools. Online apps and tutors have their own guide.
Most newcomers arrive with the same question: which language first? In Brussels, both French and Dutch are official, French is the language you hear most in shops and at the commune, and Dutch matters for many jobs and for life in Flanders. In Flanders, Dutch is the language of the administration and, for some newcomers, part of a compulsory integration programme. In Wallonia, French is what you need.
The choice of school then comes down to four things: price (public adult schools cost a fraction of private ones), schedule (evening and lunchtime slots for people in work), how much English you need to enrol (most public schools publish their information only in Dutch or French), and whether you need a recognised certificate. Your official address also changes the price, sometimes to almost nothing.
How to choose a language school in Belgium
Public adult education versus private schools
Belgium has a large public adult education system. On the Dutch-speaking side the schools are called CVO (centrum voor volwassenenonderwijs, adult education centre); they teach Dutch as a second language under the label NT2 (Nederlands als tweede taal). On the French-speaking side the equivalent is promotion sociale (social advancement education), which runs French as a foreign language courses (FLE, français langue étrangère). Fees are set by the authorities and are low. Courses are long, often a full semester, and follow the school calendar.
Private schools such as Alliance Française, Lingua Academy or Berlitz charge much more per hour but offer shorter courses, more start dates, smaller or private groups, and English-language customer service. For a newcomer who needs to get going within weeks, that flexibility is what you pay for.
What public Dutch courses cost
Fees for NT2 in Dutch-language adult education follow a fixed scale per lesson period; CVO Brussel publishes it on its own fee page: NT2 level 1: max €180 (€1.50 per lesson period); levels 2-4: €0.60 per period, max €300 per course per semester. In Brussels the price drops further if your official address is there: Brussels residents: NT2 levels 1 and 2 free, pay only copies or textbook. Each CVO applies its own rules for the Brussels reduction, so check the course page before you pay. CVO Lethas, for example, asks people who enrol online to pay the full amount first and then claim the Brussels discount back through the secretariat.
Level tests
Most schools want to know your level before placing you. The Huis van het Nederlands tests you for free if needed. CVO Semper offers an online entry test. EPFC requires a written and an oral test on site, even for absolute beginners. Alliance Française makes its test compulsory only if you already speak some French, and deducts the test price from the course. If you have studied the language before, take the test: being placed one level too low wastes a semester.
The integration programme in Flanders
If you settle in Flanders, check whether you are obliged to follow the civic integration programme (inburgering). The Flemish integration programme (inburgeringstraject) has 4 parts: Dutch, social orientation, registration with VDAB (Actiris in Brussels), and a participation/network track; it is compulsory for some newcomers, who can be fined if they do not follow it. (source, checked 2 November 2026) Bon runs integration trajectories in Brussels; Atlas in Antwerp, Amal in Ghent, AgII elsewhere in Flanders. (source, checked 2 November 2026) The agency will tell you whether you are in the obligated group and which Dutch course counts. The Flemish government overview is on vlaanderen.be. We could not reach the integration agency’s own page on who is obliged when we checked, so confirm your situation with the agency directly. Brussels and Wallonia run their own reception and integration programmes, which this guide does not cover.
Traps to avoid
- Enrolling before you are registered at your commune. The Brussels reductions depend on your official address, not on where you sleep.
- Assuming the English website means English teaching. Courses are taught in the target language.
- Waiting until October. Public schools have the broadest choice in September and January, and popular sessions fill. CVO Lethas showed a waiting list on its autumn 2026 session when we checked.
- Forgetting materials. Even when registration is free, you usually pay for the textbook or copies.
The providers compared
Scores follow our published method: value weighs most, then English accessibility, service, ease of enrolment and digital tools. Only what each school publishes is used.
1. Huis van het Nederlands Brussel (Dutch Language House) 8.6/10
Ranked 1 of 9 rated providers in this guide.
Best for: Anyone living in Brussels who wants subsidised Dutch classes and help choosing the right level.
The Huis van het Nederlands Brussel (Dutch Language House) is not a school. It is the free orientation and enrolment service for anyone aged 16 or over who wants to learn Dutch in Brussels. You come in, or book an online appointment, a consultant talks to you about your level, your schedule and your goals, tests you if needed, and enrols you directly in a course at one of the Brussels CVOs or at Ligo Brusselleer. It also advises on self-study.
It gives you the cheapest route to Dutch classes and removes the language barrier of enrolling. The website is in English, Dutch and French, so you can prepare your visit without speaking Dutch. Advice and the level test are free (Free test if needed (Thursdays or Fridays)). At Huis van het Nederlands Brussel the level test and advice are free; Brussels-domiciled learners pay at most €48 (lower level) or €134 (higher level) per Dutch course. (source, checked 2 November 2026)
What a newcomer meets: bring valid proof of identity or your residence document. On walk-in days you can wait a long time, so an online appointment is often the better choice. If a test is needed, it is booked on a Thursday or Friday and you get the result before you are placed. You can enrol all year, but the choice of courses is broadest in September and January. Classes take place in the morning, afternoon or evening, in classrooms across every Brussels municipality or online, and stop during Flemish school holidays.
It does not help with French courses or private schools. For those, see EPFC and the private schools below.
- Published price example
- Advice and test free; course max €48 (lower levels) / max €134 (higher levels) if domiciled in Brussels
- Hours in that course
- varies by coursead
- Brussels-resident discount
- Yes: max €48 lower level, max €134 higher level; max €422 from 4th repeat of same level
- Info in English
- Yes (EN website)
What works
- Free advice and level test
- Cheapest route to Dutch classes for Brussels residents
- English-language website
Watch out
- Does not cover French courses or private schools
- Walk-in wait can be up to 2 hours
How this 8.6/10 is calculated
Verified criteria carry 100% of the scoring weight. Criteria we could not verify are left out and the others are reweighted.
| Product quality (40%) | 10/10 | Advice and level test are free and Brussels residents pay at most €48 (lower levels) or €134 (higher levels) per course [HV]. |
| English accessibility (25%) | 8/10 | Full English pages on courses and FAQ; enrolment happens via consultants; course contracts are with Dutch-speaking schools [HV]. |
| Service (20%) | 8/10 | Walk-in days (wait up to 2 hours) or online appointments, phone +32 2 313 96 00, single address at Philippe de Champagnestraat 23 [HV]. |
| Simplicity (10%) | 7/10 | Bring proof of identity or residence document; a short chat and possibly a test, then the consultant enrols you directly [HV]. |
| Digital (5%) | 6/10 | Online consultations can be booked; enrolment itself is done by the consultant, no self-service online signup seen [HV]. |
Go to Huis van het Nederlands Brussel (Dutch Language House)ad
2. CVO Semper 6.6/10
Ranked 2 of 9 rated providers in this guide.
Best for: Self-starters who want to test their level and enrol online for an affordable Dutch module.
CVO Semper is a Dutch-language adult education centre on the VUB campus in Etterbeek. VUB’s own language centre sends students who want to learn Dutch or French to Semper, which says a lot about its place in the Brussels system. It teaches Dutch as a second language at all levels, in the classroom and online (its @HOME courses).
It scores well on value and on ease of use. The example module in our table, a Threshold 2 oral course of 90 lesson periods (incl. evaluation), costs €61.50 for Threshold 2 @CLASS oral (extended): €36 statutory fee + €25.50 materials. If you are domiciled in Brussels and take lessons in Brussels or online, Domiciled in Brussels and taking lessons in Brussels or online: no registration fee, only copies and textbook. Compulsory integration learners domiciled in Brussels also stay exempt from the registration fee.
Semper is the most self-service of the public schools here. You can take an online entry test if you are unsure of your level, then enrol online. You can also enrol at the secretariat, through the Huis van het Nederlands, or through a contact point of the Flemish integration agency.
The catch for newcomers: the course pages are in Dutch only. With a browser translation tool the online steps are manageable. If you would rather talk to someone in English first, go through the Huis van het Nederlands, which can place you at Semper.
- Languages
- Dutch (NT2)
- Published price example
- €61.50 for Threshold 2 @CLASS oral (extended): €36 statutory fee + €25.50 materials
- Hours in that course
- 90 lesson periods (incl. evaluation)
- Brussels-resident discount
- Domiciled in Brussels and taking lessons in Brussels or online: no registration fee, only copies and textbook
- Info in English
- Course pages in Dutch
What works
- Online test and enrolment
- Free registration for Brussels residents
Watch out
- Dutch-only pages
How this 6.6/10 is calculated
Verified criteria carry 100% of the scoring weight. Criteria we could not verify are left out and the others are reweighted.
| Product quality (40%) | 9/10 | €61.50 for a 90-period Threshold 2 module, free registration for Brussels residents; NT2 level 1 capped at €180 [SEC][SE]. |
| English accessibility (25%) | 3/10 | Pages fetched are Dutch only [SEC]. |
| Service (20%) | 6/10 | Four enrolment routes: online, school secretariat, Huis van het Nederlands, or an Agentschap Integratie en Inburgering contact point [SEC]. |
| Simplicity (10%) | 7/10 | Online entry test plus online enrolment available [SEC]. |
| Digital (5%) | 6/10 | Online test, online enrolment and @HOME online courses [SEC]. |
3. CVO Lethas 6.4/10
Ranked 3 of 9 rated providers in this guide.
Best for: Brussels residents who want a structured, low-cost Dutch course in the city centre.
CVO Lethas is a Dutch-language adult education centre in the centre of Brussels, with its Dutch courses held at Rouppeplein. It runs long NT2 courses that follow the Flemish levels and lead to certificates.
The example in our table is the Waystage course (level 1.2): 120 hours for €220 for Nederlands Waystage (level 1.2): €180 statutory fee + €40 materials. For Brussels residents the picture changes: Official address in Brussels: no registration fee, only materials (online payers are refunded the Brussels discount). That makes a full beginner course cost little more than the book.
There is one procedural trap. If you enrol online, you first pay the full amount, and the Brussels reduction is then refunded through the secretariat. So keep proof of your Brussels address ready and call or visit the secretariat after enrolling. The course pages are in Dutch only, and the level test is arranged with the school or through the Huis van het Nederlands (check with school / Huis van het Nederlandsad).
Popular sessions fill: the autumn 2026 session in our example showed a waiting list. If you see one, ask the Huis van het Nederlands for an equivalent course at another CVO.
Lethas suits Brussels residents who work or live near the centre and want a structured, low-cost Dutch course with a long timetable. It suits less well people who need an English-speaking secretariat.
- Languages
- Dutch (NT2) among others
- Published price example
- €220 for Nederlands Waystage (level 1.2): €180 statutory fee + €40 materials
- Hours in that course
- 120 hours
- Brussels-resident discount
- Official address in Brussels: no registration fee, only materials (online payers are refunded the Brussels discount)
- Level test
- check with school / Huis van het Nederlandsad
- Info in English
- Course page in Dutch
What works
- Very low cost for Brussels residents
- Long courses (120h) with certificate track
Watch out
- Dutch-only website
- Popular sessions can have waiting lists
How this 6.4/10 is calculated
Verified criteria carry 100% of the scoring weight. Criteria we could not verify are left out and the others are reweighted.
| Product quality (40%) | 9/10 | €220 for 120 hours for learners not domiciled in Brussels, only €40 materials for Brussels residents [LE]. |
| English accessibility (25%) | 3/10 | Course pages fetched are in Dutch only [LE]. |
| Service (20%) | 6/10 | Enrolment at the secretariat or online; campus Rouppe, 1000 Brussels [LE]. |
| Simplicity (10%) | 6/10 | Online enrolment possible but Brussels residents must call or visit the secretariat to get the Brussels discount refunded [LE]. |
| Digital (5%) | 5/10 | Online enrolment and @home online courses exist in the catalogue [LE]. |
4. Alliance Française de Bruxelles-Europe 6.4/10
Ranked 4 of 9 rated providers in this guide.
Best for: Working expats who want short, frequent-start French courses near the EU quarter.
The Alliance Française de Bruxelles-Europe is a private, not-for-profit French school on Avenue des Arts, at the edge of the EU quarter. It is part of the worldwide Alliance Française network and is an official exam centre for DELF, DALF and TCF, the French language certificates many employers and administrations recognise.
Its group courses are built for working people. The Active course runs over six weeks in the morning or the evening and costs Active course €435 (morning) / €470 (evening); intensive 2-week course €435 standard rate, for 30 hours of class. Groups are kept small. There is no Brussels-resident discount: No; €35 re-enrolment discount within one year, extra 5% for students and job seekers.
It ranks behind the public Dutch schools because the price per hour is much higher than in public adult education. What you get in return is simplicity and English support: a full English website, online enrolment, start dates every few weeks rather than twice a year, and a placement test whose cost comes off the course price. Private lessons exist, but the price was not shown on the page we checked.
The Alliance suits professionals near Schuman, Luxembourg or Trône who want to start French within weeks, need an evening slot, or plan to sit DELF or DALF. If your budget is tight and you can wait for a semester start, EPFC teaches the same levels for far less.
- Languages
- French
- Published price example
- Active course €435 (morning) / €470 (evening); intensive 2-week course €435 standard rate
- Hours in that course
- 30 hours
- Brussels-resident discount
- No; €35 re-enrolment discount within one year, extra 5% for students and job seekers
- Info in English
- Yes (EN site)
What works
- Flexible start dates every few weeks
- English website and online enrolment
- Exam centre for DELF/DALF and TCF
Watch out
- Much more expensive per hour than public adult schools
- Private lesson prices not shown on the page fetched
How this 6.4/10 is calculated
Verified criteria carry 100% of the scoring weight. Criteria we could not verify are left out and the others are reweighted.
| Product quality (40%) | 4/10 | €435-470 for 30 hours (about €14.50-15.70/hour), well above the subsidised schools [AFA]. |
| English accessibility (25%) | 8/10 | Full English website; classes are taught in French [AFA]. |
| Service (20%) | 8/10 | Morning and evening slots, small groups of 6-13, phone +32 2 788 21 60, Avenue des Arts 46 [AFA]. |
| Simplicity (10%) | 8/10 | Online enrolment with a placement test whose cost is deducted from the course [AFA]. |
| Digital (5%) | 7/10 | Online enrolment, e-learning offer and free Culturethèque access [AFA]. |
5. CVO Brussel 6.1/10
Ranked 5 of 9 rated providers in this guide.
Best for: Learners in Brussels who want subsidised Dutch, or a cheap French course in a Dutch-speaking adult school.
CVO Brussel is one of the larger Dutch-language adult education centres in Brussels, with campuses in Anderlecht (KAAI and COOVI). It teaches Dutch as a second language and also French and English as general vocational courses.
Its fee page sets out the public scale clearly. The NT2 rate in our table is NT2 level 1: max €180 (€1.50 per lesson period); levels 2-4: €0.60 per period, max €300 per course per semester. For Brussels residents, Brussels residents: NT2 levels 1 and 2 free, pay only copies or textbook. French courses follow a different, higher scale for general vocational courses, still well below private school prices. Check the school’s fee page for the current per-period rate.
What a newcomer meets: the information is in Dutch only (Fee page in Dutch), and we did not find an English-language enrolment route on the pages we checked. The simplest way in is through the Huis van het Nederlands, which enrols you at CVO Brussel if it is the right fit. The level test also runs through the school or the Huis (check with school / Huis van het Nederlandsad).
CVO Brussel suits learners living in Anderlecht, Molenbeek or the west of Brussels, and people who want a cheap French course in a Dutch-speaking school, which is an unusual but useful option if you already have some Dutch.
- Published price example
- NT2 level 1: max €180 (€1.50 per lesson period); levels 2-4: €0.60 per period, max €300 per course per semester
- Hours in that course
- varies by modulead
- Brussels-resident discount
- Brussels residents: NT2 levels 1 and 2 free, pay only copies or textbook
- Level test
- check with school / Huis van het Nederlandsad
- Info in English
- Fee page in Dutch
What works
- Low capped fees
- Also teaches French at a regulated per-period rate
Watch out
- Dutch-only information
- Campuses in Anderlecht rather than city centre
How this 6.1/10 is calculated
Verified criteria carry 100% of the scoring weight. Criteria we could not verify are left out and the others are reweighted.
| Product quality (40%) | 9/10 | NT2 fees capped at €180 (level 1) and €300 per semester (levels 2-4), free for Brussels residents at levels 1-2 [CB]. |
| English accessibility (25%) | 3/10 | The fee information fetched is only in Dutch [CB]. |
| Service (20%) | 5/10 | Campuses in Anderlecht (KAAI, COOVI) listed; no further channel detail checked [CB]. |
| Simplicity (10%) | 5/10 | Enrolment route via Huis van het Nederlands is described there; school-level documents not checked [HVF]. |
| Digital (5%) | 4/10 | Has a CVO Brussel student account; online signup details not checked [CB]. |
6. Lingua Academy Brussels 5.9/10
Ranked 6 of 9 rated providers in this guide.
Best for: Expats wanting a small private school with lunchtime classes in French or Dutch.
Lingua Academy Brussels is a small private school teaching French, Dutch, English and Arabic. Its English website lists group courses in morning, lunchtime, afternoon and evening slots, which is its main draw for people with office hours.
The example in our table is a beginner group course: €400 per group session (Dutch A1 or French A1, twice a week, 2h, about 7 weeks). The school does not state course length in hours (not stated in hoursad), so compare with care. It also lists French conversation tables and an online French beginner group course; check the current prices on their sitead.
You can add courses to an online cart, which is simple. New classes open when enough participants have signed up, so a listed start date is not guaranteed. The schedule on the site shows dates without a year, so confirm that the dates you see are for the current term before you pay. No level test procedure is published (not publishedad), and there is no Brussels-resident discount.
Lingua Academy suits expats who want a small group, an English-speaking contact and a lunchtime class near the office. On price per hour it is well above the public schools.
- Languages
- French, Dutch, English, Arabic
- Published price example
- €400 per group session (Dutch A1 or French A1, twice a week, 2h, about 7 weeks)
- Hours in that course
- not stated in hoursad
- Brussels-resident discount
- No
- Level test
- not publishedad
- Info in English
- Yes (EN site)
What works
- Lunchtime and evening slots
- English website
Watch out
- Schedule shows dates without a year; check the current term
- Higher per-hour cost than subsidised schools
How this 5.9/10 is calculated
Verified criteria carry 100% of the scoring weight. Criteria we could not verify are left out and the others are reweighted.
| Product quality (40%) | 5/10 | €400 per session for 2 x 2h a week over about 7 weeks; conversation tables €100 [LA]. |
| English accessibility (25%) | 8/10 | English website [LA]. |
| Service (20%) | 5/10 | Morning, lunch, afternoon and evening slots listed [LA]; other channels not checked. |
| Simplicity (10%) | 6/10 | Courses can be added to an online cart; classes open once enough participants [LA]. |
| Digital (5%) | 5/10 | Online cart; one online French group course listed [LA]. |
7. EPFC (Enseignement de Promotion et de Formation Continue) 5.7/10
Ranked 7 of 9 rated providers in this guide.
Best for: People who want an intensive, cheap, certificate-bearing French course in Brussels.
EPFC (Enseignement de Promotion et de Formation Continue) is a French-speaking adult education school in Brussels in the promotion sociale network. It runs French as a foreign language from complete beginner to advanced, in day and evening classes.
On paper it is the cheapest way to learn French in a classroom in Brussels. For 2026-27, a module of 120 periods of 50 min per module costs 2026-27: €34 one-off per year + €105.60 per module (levels 1-2), €141.60 (levels 3-9), €162 (levels 10-11), depending on level. Passing a module gives a certificate recognised across adult education in the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles, which helps if you later need to prove your level.
Its score is held back because enrolling is harder than anywhere else in this guide. You must come to the school with a valid identity document, sit a compulsory written and oral placement test on site (Mandatory written + oral test on site, even for level 1), and pay the full fee on the day of enrolment. One English page explains when and how to enrol and which documents to bring, but the course pages are in French (Enrolment page in English; course pages in French). There is no Brussels discount: No Brussels discount; reductions for some statuses (e.g. CPAS, job seekers); some non-EU nationals pay a specific fee (DIS). Some non-EU nationals pay a specific registration fee on top, so check whether this applies to your nationality before you go.
EPFC suits people who can take time off for the test and enrolment, want a long, structured course with a certificate, and are on a budget. It suits less well people who need English-language help or an online sign-up.
- Languages
- French as a foreign language (FLE)
- Published price example
- 2026-27: €34 one-off per year + €105.60 per module (levels 1-2), €141.60 (levels 3-9), €162 (levels 10-11)
- Hours in that course
- 120 periods of 50 min per module
- Brussels-resident discount
- No Brussels discount; reductions for some statuses (e.g. CPAS, job seekers); some non-EU nationals pay a specific fee (DIS)
- Info in English
- Enrolment page in English; course pages in French
What works
- Very low price per hour
- Long, structured modules with recognised certificates
Watch out
- On-site test and enrolment
- Non-EU nationals may pay an extra fee
How this 5.7/10 is calculated
Verified criteria carry 100% of the scoring weight. Criteria we could not verify are left out and the others are reweighted.
| Product quality (40%) | 9/10 | 120-period French modules from €105.60 plus a €34 yearly fee [EP]. |
| English accessibility (25%) | 2/10 | Partial: one English page (epfc.eu/english, linked as EN in the menu) covers when and how to enrol and the documents to bring; course pages, announcements and the footer stay in French. |
| Service (20%) | 5/10 | Day and evening classes, 3 to 20 periods per week [EP]; other channels not checked. |
| Simplicity (10%) | 4/10 | Valid ID required, mandatory written and oral test on site, full payment on enrolment day [EPI][EP]. |
| Digital (5%) | 3/10 | Tests and enrolment are on site [EPI]. |
Go to EPFC (Enseignement de Promotion et de Formation Continue)ad
8. Ligo Brusselleer 5.5/10
Ranked 8 of 9 rated providers in this guide.
Best for: Adults with little formal schooling who want to learn Dutch at a gentle pace.
Ligo Brusselleer is the Brussels centre for basic education (basiseducatie), teaching Dutch, reading, writing and other basic skills to adults. It has locations in the centre, Schaerbeek, Koekelberg and Anderlecht.
Courses are cheap: Most courses free; sometimes pay for materials. But Ligo is aimed at adults without a secondary school diploma, and its Dutch courses move at a slow pace. For most expats who arrive with a degree and a job, a CVO course will be the better fit.
You do not enrol at Ligo directly for Dutch. You contact the Huis van het Nederlands, which decides whether Ligo or a CVO suits you and places you there (via Huis van het Nederlandsad). The website is in Dutch only and there is no online sign-up.
Ligo suits newcomers with little formal schooling, or who have never studied a foreign language, and who want to learn Dutch at a gentle pace with close support. If that describes a family member rather than you, the Huis van het Nederlands is still the place to start.
- Languages
- Dutch (basic education)
- Published price example
- Most courses free; sometimes pay for materials
- Hours in that course
- variesad
- Brussels-resident discount
- Already free
- Level test
- via Huis van het Nederlandsad
- Info in English
- Site in Dutch
What works
- Free
- Slow-paced basic courses
Watch out
- Only for adults without a secondary diploma
- Not suited to highly educated expats
How this 5.5/10 is calculated
Verified criteria carry 100% of the scoring weight. Criteria we could not verify are left out and the others are reweighted.
| Product quality (40%) | 8/10 | Most courses are free [LI], but it targets adults without a secondary school diploma [LI]. |
| English accessibility (25%) | 2/10 | Site fetched in Dutch only [LI]. |
| Service (20%) | 6/10 | Several Brussels locations (centre, Schaerbeek, Koekelberg, Anderlecht), phone 02 223 20 45 [LI]. |
| Simplicity (10%) | 5/10 | For Dutch you go through Huis van het Nederlands first [LI]. |
| Digital (5%) | 2/10 | No online signup seen [LI]. |
9. Berlitz Belgium 5.5/10
Ranked 9 of 9 rated providers in this guide.
Best for: Professionals whose employer pays for tailored in-person training.
Berlitz is an international language school chain with a Brussels school at Cantersteen, near Central Station, and lessons at Silversquare business centres in Brussels, Zaventem, Antwerp, Liège and Louvain-la-Neuve. It teaches Dutch, French and many other languages, in person and live online.
Berlitz does not publish prices on its Belgian site (check current pricead). You fill in a contact form and the school replies with an offer. Course length and format are set per client, and no Brussels discount or level test procedure is published. Without published prices, we cannot compare its value with the other schools.
The model fits company training. If your employer offers language lessons as part of your package, Berlitz may be the provider HR already works with, and private lessons at a business centre near your office can be convenient. Its locations outside Brussels are also useful if you work in Antwerp, Liège or Louvain-la-Neuve, where this guide has fewer options.
If you are paying yourself, ask for a written quote with the number of hours and compare the price per hour with the public schools above before you sign.
- Languages
- Dutch, French and 40+ languages
- Published price example
- check current pricead
- Hours in that course
- tailoredad
- Brussels-resident discount
- not publishedad
- Level test
- not publishedad
- Info in English
- Yes (EN site)
What works
- Tailored private or company training
- Several locations
Watch out
- No published prices
How this 5.5/10 is calculated
Verified criteria carry 100% of the scoring weight. Criteria we could not verify are left out and the others are reweighted.
| Product quality (40%) | 3/10 | No prices published on the Belgian site; enquiry form only [BEI]. |
| English accessibility (25%) | 8/10 | Website in English, Dutch and French [BE]. |
| Service (20%) | 7/10 | Brussels school at Cantersteen 47 plus lessons at Silversquare locations in Zaventem, Antwerp, Liège, Louvain-la-Neuve; replies within 2 working days [BE]. |
| Simplicity (10%) | 5/10 | Must fill in a contact form to get an offer [BE]. |
| Digital (5%) | 7/10 | Live online classes (Berlitz Live) offered alongside in-person [BE]. |
If you live in Brussels
Register at your commune first. Every Dutch reduction in this guide depends on an official address in Brussels. Then book an online appointment with the Huis van het Nederlands for Dutch. For French on a budget, look at EPFC or other promotion sociale schools; the Huis van het Nederlands does not cover them.
The Brussels Region also lists free and paid ways to learn languages on be.brussels. be.brussels states that job seekers registered with Actiris have free access to the Brulingua online platform (French, Dutch, German, English). (source, checked 2 November 2026)
If you live in Flanders
The schools in this guide are in Brussels. Flanders has its own network of CVOs outside Brussels; we did not check their course pages for this guide. The NT2 fee scale described above applies to Dutch-language adult education, but the Brussels reduction does not. Before you enrol, check whether you are obliged to follow the integration programme, since the integration agency can place you in the Dutch course that counts towards it. Berlitz also teaches at a business centre in Antwerp.
If you are a student or researcher
University language centres are often reserved for their own students. ULB French courses are free but reserved for ULB students. (source, checked 2 November 2026) At VUB, the ACTO language centre does not teach Dutch or French itself and sends learners to CVO Semper on the same campus, so Semper is the natural choice for VUB students.
If you are looking for work
If you are registered as a job seeker, ask Actiris (Brussels), VDAB (Flanders) or Le Forem (Wallonia) what language training they fund before paying for a course. In Brussels, registered job seekers get free access to an online learning platform. The Alliance Française also gives an extra discount to job seekers with proof, and EPFC lists reductions for some statuses.
Step by step: enrolling in a Dutch course in Brussels
- Register at your commune, so that your official address is in Brussels.
- Book an appointment with the Huis van het Nederlands online, or go on a walk-in day and expect to wait.
- Bring valid proof of identity or your residence document.
- Talk to the consultant about your level, your goals and your free time. If you have learned some Dutch, you will be tested on a Thursday or Friday.
- Get enrolled directly in a course at a CVO or Ligo Brusselleer.
- Pay the school for registration if it applies, and for materials.
- If you enrol online yourself at CVO Lethas, pay the full price and then claim the Brussels discount from the secretariat.
Step by step: enrolling in a French course
- Decide between public and private. Public (EPFC) is cheapest but needs time for testing and enrolment. Private (Alliance Française, Lingua Academy) is quicker to start.
- For EPFC, check the enrolment dates on its site, go with a valid ID, take the written and oral test, and pay in full on the day.
- For the Alliance Française, take the placement test if you already speak some French, then enrol online for the next start date.
- Keep your certificate after each module or course. It helps if you later need proof of your level for a job or an application.
Our verdict
Huis van het Nederlands Brussel (Dutch Language House) comes out ahead in the table. For Dutch in Brussels, start with the Huis van het Nederlands: it is free, its information is in English, and it puts you in a subsidised course that costs almost nothing once you are a registered resident. If you prefer to enrol online yourself, CVO Semper is the easiest public school to deal with, and CVO Lethas is a good central alternative. For French, the Alliance Française is the quickest and most English-friendly option for people in work, while EPFC gives the most hours for the money if you can handle an on-site enrolment in French. Lingua Academy and Berlitz make sense for lunchtime classes or employer-paid training, not for learners on a budget.
Frequently asked questions
Are Dutch lessons free in Brussels?
Advice and the level test at Huis van het Nederlands are free. If you are domiciled in Brussels, a course costs at most €48 (lower level) or €134 (higher level). Source.
Does Huis van het Nederlands teach the classes itself?
No. It assesses your level and enrols you at a CVO (adult education centre) or at Ligo Brusselleer. Source.
How much does a cheap French course cost in Brussels?
At EPFC (2026-27) you pay €34 once per year plus €105.60 per 120-period module at levels 1-2, €141.60 at levels 3-9 and €162 at levels 10-11. Source.
Do I need a level test?
At EPFC a written and oral test is mandatory even for level 1 (epfc.eu). At Alliance Française it is mandatory if you already know some French and its price is deducted from the course (alliancefr.be). CVO Semper offers an online entry test (cvosemper.be).
Is Dutch compulsory if I move to Flanders?
The integration programme, which includes Dutch, is compulsory for some newcomers and non-compliance can be fined; check whether you are in the obligated group with the integration agency. Source.
Can I take French courses at ULB or VUB?
ULB French courses are free but only for ULB students (ulb.be). VUB's ACTO language centre does not offer Dutch or French courses and refers learners to CVO Semper on the VUB campus (vub.be).
Official sources
- Huis van het Nederlands Brussel - taking a Dutch course, checked 2 November 2026
- Huis van het Nederlands Brussel - FAQ, checked 2 November 2026
- Vlaanderen.be - Inburgering, checked 2 November 2026
- be.brussels - courses to learn foreign languages, checked 2 November 2026
- ULB - Français langue étrangère, checked 2 November 2026
- VUB - ACTO language courses, checked 2 November 2026
- www.huisnederlandsbrussel.be: At Huis van het Nederlands Brussel the level test and advice are free; Brussels-domiciled learners pay at most €48 (l… (checked 2 November 2026)
- www.vlaanderen.be: The Flemish integration programme (inburgeringstraject) has 4 parts: Dutch, social orientation, registration with VDA… (checked 2 November 2026)
- www.vlaanderen.be: Bon runs integration trajectories in Brussels; Atlas in Antwerp, Amal in Ghent, AgII elsewhere in Flanders. (checked 2 November 2026)
- be.brussels: be.brussels states that job seekers registered with Actiris have free access to the Brulingua online platform (French… (checked 2 November 2026)
- www.ulb.be: ULB French courses are free but reserved for ULB students. (checked 2 November 2026)