Sorry, yes there is racism in Belgium
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It's not something we're very proud of, but yes, there is a lot of racism in Belgium, the extreme right party gets up to 30% of the votes in some of the major cities with a very heavy anti-immigration program. It is mainly visible, but certainly not limited to, the Dutch speaking part of Belgium.
However, I must add that you won't notice it that much in the streets. The racism is not so much based on the colour of your skin, but on the efforts you make to integrate into Belgian society.
An important part of the way "integration" is understood in Belgium, (especially in Flanders, maybe less in Wallonia and Brussels) is learning the language. Don't be afraid to speak Dutch in Flanders, even if it is just a little bit and full of mistakes, people will genuinely appreciate the effort and will be a lot more open.Peter, Belgium 23 Oct 2008, 08:24 - Report