"Mons/Bergen?" Top 5 Page for this destination Mons Local Custom Tip by lmkluque

Belgium has two official languages, French and Flemish. This can add to the normal confusion of traveling in a country where the language is not the same as one's own.

Especially if you know the name of a place in only one of the languages and if the town is smaller or more remote.

Mons is located in the French area of Belgium and it seems that "Mons" is the commonly used term for the town. However keep in mind that some people may not know the French name, but rather only the Flemish name, in this case, Bergen.

This happened to me a few times and it was quite interesting. Finally I managed to remember both names to avoid any more sticky situations, because not only having one name to offer my accent with the name I did know, was "horrible!"

Mons is the French name for the city and Bergen is the Flemish name. Both are printed on many signs and especially while traveling by car or by train, keep this in mind, so you can get off at the correct exit or train station.