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MusicBelgium

Belgium's Pommelien Thijs is a star in only half the country

03:35

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Christian Feld | Lea Hillebrand
October 1, 2026

The pop singer fills large venues in Dutch-speaking Flanders but is far less popular in the French-speaking part of the country. What explains this language divide in the Belgian music scene?

Belgian pop sensation and actress ("Knokke Off" on Netflix) Pommelien Thijs drew around 15,000 fans to the Lokerse Feesten festival, where audiences sang along to songs about growing up, love and social justice. The 25-year-old has become one of Flanders's biggest stars while staying true to her Dutch-language songwriting. Her success also highlights Belgium's linguistic divide, as she now takes her music to French-speaking Wallonia, aiming to win over a new audience and establish herself as a nationwide star.

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