Flanders has, by tradition, an international outlook. A succession of occupying powers over many centuries in history have made it quite clear to the Flemish people that they should not restrict their interest to what goes on within their own borders, but rather that Flanders is very much dependent on what is happening in Europe and the rest of the world. It is far from being an introspective country.

One of the most potent elements for success in Flanders is the exceptionally high standard of education of its population. All children between the ages of 2 ½ and 18 years are educated free of charge. School attendance is compulsory up to the age of 18. There are three educational networks: community education, subsidised official education organized by the provinces, towns and local authorities, and subsidized free education run by private organisations. After kindergarten Flemish children visit primary school (6-12) and then secondary school (12-18). After that, students can go to the university or an institute of higher education (such as the XIOS Hogeschool Limburg).

There is a great deal of misunderstanding concerning the language spoken in Flanders. The international media often use the words “Vlaams” or "Flemish". The truth is that the standard language is Dutch. The same as in the Netherlands, located north of Flanders. There are about 21 million people who speak Dutch in the world. A treaty entered into by the Netherlands and Flanders, the so-called "Taalunie" (i.e.language union), monitors the homogeneity of the language in both areas. The first foreign language in Flanders is French but many people also speak English and German.

Study in Flanders (Belgium):  http://www.studyinflanders.be/
 
Flanders Agency for Mobility and Cooperation in Higher Education – Flamenco:  http://www.flamenco-vzw.be/