Optimizing a website in Brussels a is quite complex task. Indeed, while ranking for keywords may be less difficult than in the UK for example, a SEO expert has to take into account the fragmented nature of the Belgium web mainly due to the coexistence of at least four different languages: French, Flemish, English and German. Believe me, that’s a lot for such a small country!
Indeed, one has to remember that there are three official languages: French, Flemish and German (although the latter one is only spoken by a tiny minority). What makes things more complicated is that Brussels, the capital of Belgium, is also the capital of the European Union. Hence, the three main institutions of the EU – the Council of the European Union, the European Commission and European Parliament – are located in Brussels. The “EU quarter” is also surrounded by thousands of interest groups trying to influence to the decision-making process. Needless to say that the predominant language in this European’s affairs small world is English.
In the case of the creation and optimization of a typical website in Brussels, targeted audience in at least four languages, below are the consequences.