Brussels is a cosmopolitan and multicultural city where bilingualism is an essential skill. Many parents wish to enroll their child in a bilingual school to offer them learning in French, Dutch, or English while benefiting from a solid academic program.

But how can you choose among the different types of bilingual schools in Brussels? Here is a guide to understand their specific features and find the school best suited to your child.

International bilingual schools offer education in two languages, often in English-French or English-Dutch. These schools are generally aimed at expat families but also at parents seeking an education with an international outlook.

In Brussels, private bilingual schools are generally international schools, offering globally recognized academic programs such as the International Baccalaureate (IB) or the Cambridge International Curriculum. They provide a multicultural environment and teaching methods tailored to expat families or parents seeking an internationally-oriented education.

✔ Languages of instruction: Mainly English-French (sometimes English-Dutch, English-German).
✔ School levels: Preschool, primary, and secondary.
✔ Academic programs:

• International Baccalaureate (IB)
• Cambridge International Examinations
• British, American or Belgian education systems (CEB, CESS)

✔ Diplomas awarded: Internationally recognized, allowing access to universities worldwide.

For whom? International families, children from multilingual households, or those planning to study abroad.

European schools in Brussels were created to accommodate the children of European Union institution staff, although they sometimes accept other students depending on available space.

✔ Languages of instruction: Several language sections (French, English, German, Spanish, Italian, etc.).
✔ School levels: Primary and secondary.
✔ Academic program: Based on the European Baccalaureate (EB).
✔ Diploma awarded: European Baccalaureate, recognized in all EU countries.

For whom? Children of European civil servants or families seeking a structured multilingual education.

Contrary to popular belief, there are no truly bilingual public schools in Brussels. As the Belgian capital falls under bicultural educational governance, the creation of bilingual schools would require cooperation between the French- and Dutch-speaking communities, which is politically complex.
However, some schools offer language immersion programs, where French-speaking or Dutch-speaking students attend part of their education in the other national language.

✔ Languages of instruction: French-Dutch.
✔ School levels: Preschool (often starting in the third year), primary and secondary.
✔ Academic program: Based on the French-speaking or Dutch-speaking Belgian education systems.

Examples of immersion schools in Brussels:

• FWB network schools offering Dutch immersion
• Flemish schools offering French immersion

For whom? Families seeking strong language integration in one of Belgium’s official languages.

In so-called “immersion” schools in the Wallonia-Brussels Federation (FWB), French-speaking students take about
half of their courses in another language (often Dutch or English), but
the language environment remains mostly French-speaking. In other words:

• Only the teachers speak the target language (Dutch/English).
• Students continue speaking French among themselves during recess, lunch, transitions, etc.
• The target language remains confined to an academic and theoretical setting, with no real presence in the school’s daily life.

Even though students make progress, they rarely achieve true bilingualism. Their language skills often remain academic,
limited in fluency, spontaneous understanding, and natural expression.

By comparison:

A French-speaking student attending a regular Dutch- or English-speaking school is fully immersed in that language:
all courses, social interactions, displays, school rules—everything is in the target language.

In this case, learning is much faster (often in less than a year to understand and manage).