The Standing Commission for Language Supervision (VCT) has decided that road signs in Wemmel, a municipality with language facilities, violate the legislation because they are only in Dutch. The Flemish Region, through Mobility and Public Works Minister Annick De Ridder (N-VA), rejects the decision, triggering a new linguistic conflict around the capital.

(Staff: Belgium / Mobility & Politics)

A new chapter in Belgium’s linguistic conflict was written this week, this time concerning the road signs on the Brussels Ring (R0). The Standing Commission for Language Supervision (Vaste Commissie voor Taaltoezicht – VCT) decided that certain signs in the municipality of Wemmel, located on the northern outskirts of Brussels and benefiting from language facilities for French speakers, are illegal because they are displayed only in Dutch.

What does the Language Commission’s decision provide?

The Commission was approached following an official complaint filed by Gerfa (Groupe d’Etudes et de Recherches sur les Francophones), an organisation defending the rights of French speakers. The complaint concerns Ring signs indicating, for example, the cities of Bergen and Namen instead of their French names, Mons and Namur. According to the Commission, because Wemmel is a municipality with language facilities, signs intended for the general public must be bilingual – in Dutch and French.

Flanders’ position: a categorical refusal

In response, the Flemish Region, through Mobility and Public Works Minister Annick De Ridder (N-VA), firmly rejected the Commission’s decision. A spokesperson for the minister said that Wemmel is and remains a Flemish municipality and that language facilities do not turn it into a bilingual territory.

The Flemish authorities argue that the signs on the Ring are intended for regional and international traffic, not for the residents of Wemmel. Therefore, Dutch is the only mandatory language. This position is consistent with Flanders’ policy of protecting the Dutch-speaking character of the region, even in municipalities with language facilities, a sensitive issue in Flemish politics.

A conflict with legal and political implications

Although the VCT is the federal supervisory authority for the application of language legislation, its recommendations are not legally binding. However, the Flemish Agency for Roads and Traffic (Agentschap Wegen en Verkeer) is required to respond officially to the Commission’s recommendations within three months.

Gerfa President Michel Legrand stressed that his action is not intended to fuel political tensions, but to ensure strict compliance with federal law. He pointed out that signs exclusively in Dutch can cause confusion and pose a road-safety risk, particularly for international drivers using this important route.

If Flanders continues to ignore the Commission’s recommendations, the Gerfa organisation may refer the matter to the Council of State, Belgium’s highest administrative court, to resolve the dispute.

The wider context

This conflict is the latest in a series of disputes over the language used on road signs around Brussels. Over the years, there have been numerous cases of bilingual signs being painted over or destroyed, while Flanders’ position of removing bilingual signs from the Ring has remained a constant source of tension. The Commission’s decision and Flanders’ refusal once again highlight the deeply divided Belgian political and linguistic landscape, where even road signs can become a symbolic battleground.