Belgium sees rise in bicultural couples

Research from the Odisee University of Applied Sciences Family Science Knowledge Center reveals that bicultural couples now account for 36% of all relationships in Belgium. This figure represents a doubling of the proportion of bicultural couples over the last three decades.

Regional data shows significant variation: in Flanders, bicultural couples make up 26% of relationships, while in Brussels, the figure reaches 82%. While couples where both partners are of Belgian origin remain the most common, the most frequent bicultural combinations include Moroccan-Moroccan, Belgian-Italian, and Turkish-Turkish pairings. Relationships involving Belgian citizens and French or Dutch citizens also rank highly.

The study notes that as Belgium transitions into a superdiverse society, the variety of origin combinations is increasing, including more recent migrant groups such as those from Romania. However, the research highlights that these couples often face unique social pressures, including family tension, societal prejudices, and subtle or overt racism.