Did you know...? Belgium has more comic writers per km2 than anywhere in the world.
It is common to greet each other with a firm handshake. Small talk can be a good option to get to know each other better. Useful small talk topics are the Belgian culture, sports and food. Nevertheless, small talk is not as important as in other countries. Hand gestures and facial expressions, especially eye contact, are useful communication tools.
Business interactions happen rather conventional. This also includes that you are going to address your colleagues and co-workers by their surnames. Of course you can swap to the first name after being invited to do so. Straight forward communication is normal as well as politeness towards each other. If you intend to pass critique, you should use polite and respectful phrases to not to appear rude. Both, work and leisure time are important parts of Belgians' lives and cause their willingness to work hard. A classical work day usually takes eight hours with a lunch break in between. Punctuality is not only polite, but also essential for a successful company.