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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Jennifer Rankin in Brussels

Complaint upheld against Belgian ticket inspector who said ‘bonjour’ in Flanders

'Bruxelles-Brussel' sign with the Atomium in the background
The train was in Flanders and nearing Brussels, which is officially bilingual. Photograph: David R Frazier Photolibrary, Inc/Alamy

A complaint against a Belgian ticket inspector who gave passengers a bilingual greeting in Dutch-speaking Flanders has been upheld, shedding light on the country’s strict language laws.

The conductor, Ilyass Alba, said Belgium’s Permanent Commission for Linguistic Control had upheld a complaint made by a commuter in 2024. The passenger had objected to Alba’s use of the French word “bonjour” while the train was in Dutch-speaking Flanders.

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