Belgium Cover Letter Template 2026 — Format, Examples & Free Download

Belgian applications turn on one choice — language. Write the one-page lettre de motivation or sollicitatiebrief in the language of the advertisement. This guide covers conventions, structure, an annotated template, common mistakes and FAQs.

Cover letter conventions in Belgium

A covering letter (lettre de motivation in French, sollicitatiebrief in Dutch) is expected for professional roles across Belgium and is sent as a separate document with your CV. One page is the norm, and the tone is formal but not stiff: 'Cher Monsieur / Chère Madame' or 'Geachte heer / Mevrouw' when you have a name, a neutral formula when you do not, closing 'Cordialement' or 'Met vriendelijke groet'. Photos on the CV are optional and increasingly uncommon, but diploma details are not: Belgian CVs normally list your qualifications in full, with institution and year, and the letter should explain how those qualifications apply to this role.

Language is the decision that matters most. Postings in Flanders are in Dutch; Wallonia advertises in French; the small German-speaking community uses German; Brussels is French, Dutch or bilingual; and English appears mainly at EU institutions, international organisations and multinationals. Write in the language of the advertisement — always. If a Brussels employer advertises bilingually, choose the language of the team you would join, or ask. Candidates from outside the EU should state plainly whether they already hold the right to work, since the permit question arises early in Belgian hiring.

What to include, paragraph by paragraph

A Belgian screener reads for three signals: language match, qualification match, and clarity. Start by naming the role and the source, then build the argument:

1. Name the role and the source. State the exact position and where the posting appeared, with a reference number if given. One line on who you are — current role, field, years — so the letter is filed against the right vacancy from the first sentence.
2. Map yourself to the diploma and skill requirements. Belgian ads list requirements tightly, and credentials carry weight. Answer the main requirements in order: '[Requirement] — that is my [degree/certification/experience].' Name your language skills explicitly, including your level in French, Dutch or English as relevant.
3. Prove fit with one concrete example. Give a [specific achievement] with context and result, tied back to the requirement it demonstrates, then one sentence on why this employer — their clients, market or standing in Belgium — rather than any employer.
4. Close with availability and work status. Give your notice period or earliest start date, state your work-authorisation position if you are not an EU/EEA citizen, mention the attached CV, and close with the appropriate sign-off for the language you wrote in.

What a Belgian recruiter checks first: your letter's language matches the ad, your diploma line is present, and your work-permit status is clear if you are from outside the EU.

Belgium cover letter example (structure breakdown)

The template below is a working Belgian letter in placeholder form. The annotations show what each part is doing for a bilingual market:

Mistakes that get cover letters ignored in Belgium

• Writing in the wrong language. A French letter sent to a Flemish employer (or the reverse) reads as not bothering to check. Match the language of the advertisement every time.
• Treating Belgium as one language market. Dutch, French and — in a small area — German are used regionally; Brussels runs on both French and Dutch. Generic bilingual assumptions get filtered out fast.
• Leaving out work-authorisation status if you are non-EU. Belgian employers must consider permit feasibility early. One clear sentence prevents wasted rounds for both sides.
• Understating your diplomas. Vague study history weakens an otherwise strong letter in a credential-conscious market. List qualification, institution and year on the CV, and reference the relevant one in the letter.

Frequently asked questions