Antwerp and Anvers: Should Signs on the Brussels Ring in Wemmel Suddenly Become Bilingual?

Place names on the Brussels ring near Wemmel could once again appear in both Dutch and French, if Belgium’s Permanent Commission for Linguistic Supervision gets its way.

The commission, known by its Dutch initials VCT, issued an advisory opinion calling for bilingual directional signs near Wemmel, a Flemish municipality with language facilities. That would mean signs displaying names such as “Bergen” and “Mons,” or “Brussel” and “Bruxelles.”

Flemish Mobility Minister Annick De Ridder, a member of the N-VA party, responded with a pronounced raised eyebrow. The short reaction signals her skepticism toward the language watchdog’s recommendation.