Country Customary Information:
• Strong emphasis on family life
Communication Etiquette:
• A good introduction is a brief handshake
• Appearance is very important in Belgian culture
• Cleanliness is considered a matter of national pride
• Gifts can be given, in the form of flowers or chocolates
• Very direct, and prefer communication to be logical and based upon reason
• Avoid being confrontational as it is considered rude
• Must always be polite and well mannered no mater how well you know each other
• They keep their private and public life separate, you are not really their friend until you are invited into their home
Business Etiquette:
• Relationships are a important part of the business culture in Belgium.
• Dress as formal as possible with being conservative.
– Dark suits and ties for the men
– Nice dresses or suits for the women
– Polished Shoes
– Do not remove jacket during meeting
• First meeting is more social, Belgians like to know the person their doing business with
• Have one side of your business card translated into French or Dutch to show respect
• Meetings are formal, arriving late may leave an impression that you are unreliable
• Most companies operate from the top down in a hierarchy