Smiley
This region is the Dutch (actually Vlaams) speaking area of Belgium, and most people will be tri-lingual in Dutch, English and French...
There has been a little "friction" between the French and Dutch speaking regions, so I wouldn't bother speaking French - unless you like funny looks...
And whilst Dutch is a west German language, like English and German, you'll have fun learning it - the pronunciation will kill you. The words will look a lot like English - but the pronunciation is different.
And names with IJ in them will make your tongue pop-out - until you discover that it's the same as a "Y". IJ is a separate letter in the Duthc alphabet, and there's no letter Q
But BabelFish on-line or a Dutch phrase book will do - useful words include:
Thank you = Dank U (almost the same as English)
Thank you very much = Dank U Wel
Beer = Bier
Please = Alstublieft (widely used to attract attention or even to say please) pronounced Al - stew - blieft (just try to find a mp3 file on the internet)
What would you like to drink = Wat wilt u drinken
A beer please = een bier, alstublieft
And that's your whole vacation sorted... Actually you should say "een biertje, alstublieft - a small beer
And many words will be borrowed from English - like informatie (information), receptie (reception), etc.
=== Road Signs ===
Most town names will be in Dutch, such as Brugge, Gent, Antwerpen, Brussels, Kortrijk....
Afrit = Motorway Exit
Afrit Afgesloten = Exit Closed
File = Traffic Jam (on the motorway gantry signs - usually File 5km)
Ritsen = Zip (usually at the start of any road works - zip means merge in turn)
Ritsen vanaaf 300 metres = merge in 300 metres
And the rest of the signs are international
Robert
If you want a list of caravan words in Dutch - take a look at http://www.eriba-amiga.co.uk/pdf/Eriba_translations.pdf