AZERTY-BE (Belgian) — How Belgian Differs from French AZERTY
AZERTY-BE is the Belgian variant of AZERTY — used in French-speaking Wallonia. It's similar to French AZERTY-FR but with several subtle differences in symbol positions and special characters. This guide covers what's different and when to use which.
Belgium's linguistic divide
Belgium is officially trilingual:
- Flanders (~57% of population) — Dutch (Flemish)
- Wallonia (~32%) — French
- Eastern Cantons (~1%) — German
Different keyboard standards by region:
- Wallonia (French): AZERTY-BE
- Flanders (Dutch): QWERTY-BE (also called Belgian US-International)
- German-speaking East: usually QWERTZ-DE
AZERTY-BE vs AZERTY-FR
| Feature | AZERTY-BE | AZERTY-FR |
|---|---|---|
| A/Q swap | ✓ | ✓ |
| W/Z swap | ✓ | ✓ |
| M position | Right of L (home) | Right of L (home) |
| Top row default | Letters/accents | Letters/accents |
| Number row | Requires Shift | Requires Shift |
| Some symbol positions | Slightly different | Standard |
| @ position | AltGr+0 | AltGr+0 |
| € | AltGr+E | AltGr+E |
Day-to-day, AZERTY-BE and AZERTY-FR feel very similar. Most differences are in obscure symbol positions and dead-key behavior.
Where each character lives on AZERTY-BE
Same as AZERTY-FR for the main alphabet:
- Q at top-left (where A is on QWERTY) — but A is at QWERTY's Q position
- A on home pinky (typing position)
- Z at top row (where W is on QWERTY)
- W on bottom row (where Z is on QWERTY)
- M on home row (right of L)
- Numbers via Shift
French accent direct keys:
- é è à ù ç all on top row or right side
- Circumflex via dead key
Practice the Belgian layout at /azerty_be/.
Why Flanders uses different keyboard
Flemish speakers in Belgium often use QWERTY-NL (US-International style) instead of AZERTY-BE. Reasons:
- Dutch doesn't benefit from AZERTY's French-optimized layout
- QWERTY is more compatible with Dutch/international software
- Brussels (officially bilingual) sees both layouts in workplaces
This creates an interesting situation where Belgian colleagues may use entirely different keyboards.
Common Belgian French typing patterns
Same as French (since Wallonia speaks French):
- le, la, les, de, et, est — articles and conjunctions
- être, avoir, faire — common verbs
- français, ça, garçon — ç words
- élève, été, après, très — accent-heavy words
Belgian French has minor vocabulary differences from France French (septante for "70" instead of soixante-dix; nonante for "90" instead of quatre-vingt-dix) but typing-wise identical.
Touch typing tips for AZERTY-BE
- A/Q and W/Z confusion (when coming from QWERTY) — first week is rough
- Number row requires Shift — adjust habits
- Right pinky for é, è, à (direct keys)
- Brussels speakers may need both layouts — accept the cross-language switching
After 30 days of AZERTY-BE practice: 45-55 WPM in real French.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does AZERTY-BE differ from AZERTY-FR?
About 5% of keys differ in symbol positions; main letters identical. Most users can switch between them with 1-2 weeks of adjustment.
Why doesn't Belgium standardize on one keyboard?
Linguistic divide — French speakers prefer AZERTY (faster for French); Dutch speakers prefer QWERTY (faster for Dutch). Forcing one standard would disadvantage half the population.
What about Brussels bilingual workers?
Many maintain both layouts and switch via keyboard shortcut. Some use AZERTY for French + an English/Dutch layout for other work.
Are number keys also requiring Shift on AZERTY-BE?
Yes — same as AZERTY-FR. Default top row produces letters/accents; Shift gives numbers. Annoying for math/data work, optimal for prose.
What about Luxembourg (also French-speaking)?
Luxembourg officially uses AZERTY-BE (Belgian standard) for French and QWERTZ-DE for German. Some Luxembourg keyboards have a multilingual variant.
Can French Canadians use AZERTY-BE?
No — French Canada uses a unique "Canadian French" layout (QWERTY-based) with dead-key accents. Different keyboard family.
Why does French use AZERTY at all?
Historical legacy from late 19th century. Originally designed for French typewriters in France/Belgium. Hard to change due to network effects.
Try it
Practice AZERTY-BE on Typing Hero App — 19 lessons designed for the Belgian variant.
For more: How to type in French, AZERTY-FR French layout, QWERTY-NL Dutch layout.