Liquid velocity profiles in a bubble column were measured with the aid of a hot-film anemometer. Two different types of profiles were detected that were characterized by the formation of a boundary layer at the column wall. Under slow flow conditions, the boundary layer is large and controls the liquid velocity profile, but in turbulent flow the boundary layer is very small and has no significant effect on the velocity profile. Microscopic and macroscopic balances were used to predict both the liquid velocity profile and the average liquid velocity.