Belgitude (French; lit.'Belgianness') is a term used loosely to express the typical Belgian soul and identity, often with a so-called keen sense of self-mockery that characterises its population.[1] Originating from a perceived lack of common identity among the different communities, regions and language areas of Belgium,[2] the neologism was coined in the 1970s and 1980s[1] by allusion to the concept of négritude about feeling black, expressed among others by Léopold Sédar Senghor.[3] It has since gained in popularity and has primarily been used to describe typical or unique aspects of Belgian culture.
