People in The Netherlands typically speak Dutch from birth and English from school-age, yet call themselves monolingual despite being extremely fluent in English. Similarly, people in Norway typically speak Norwegian from birth and English from school-age. People in Germany typically speak German from birth and English from school-age. People in Belgium typically learn Dutch (Flemish), or French (Wallonian), German, and English.
In English-speaking countries such as Australia, USA and UK "bilingualism" refers both to "simultaneous bilingualism" and "sequential bilingualism"; that is learning one language after another. "Monolinguals" are people who can only speak one language, and who cannot speak another language at all (a state that is almost impossible within much of Europe).
