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How do Belgians say “I love you” in Flemish?

In Flemish, the everyday phrase for “I love you” is ik zie je graag (“I see you gladly”). The construction comes from iemand graag zien (“to be glad to see someone”), which has shifted in southern Dutch into a romantic declaration. North of the Belgian border, Netherlands Dutch speakers say “ik hou van je” (“I hold you / I love you”); they would understand “ik zie je graag” but rarely use it. The Flemish phrase is softer and warmer, less ceremonial than the Dutch version.

In this clip, a Flemish couple navigate the phrase live on camera: “Ik zie je echt graag.” And the gentle clarification: “Ja, ik probeer gewoon te zeggen dat ik je graag zie.”