Hi everyone,
For quite some time, I’ve been wondering about the visible presence of Islam in Belgium, especially in larger cities (though not only there).
I’m aware that Muslim communities have been part of Belgian society for decades. However, over the past few years (roughly since 2020—this is just a personal impression, not based on data), I feel like this presence has become much more noticeable.
With the arrival of warmer weather, there also seems to be a seasonal effect: public spaces become more lively in general, and certain groups appear more visible.
Of course, I fully understand that Belgian society has evolved over the past 60 years and includes people from diverse backgrounds. What I find surprising, though, is the impression that some individuals or families don’t seem to speak any of the national languages, which might suggest more recent arrivals.
At the same time, I often read that there is a trend toward secularization within Muslim communities (as in many others), yet my personal impression is that some forms of religious expression (e.g. clothing) appear more visible or more conservative than before.
I want to stress that my intention is not to start a polemic. I’ll be honest that such visible expressions of religion in public space sometimes make me uncomfortable, but my main goal here is to understand better.
Have others observed similar trends? And are there any studies or data that either support or contradict this impression?
Thanks in advance for any insights.