🕊 Freedom 🤝 Unity 🗽 Independence 👑 Monarchy ❤ Love of homeland | Proud
Key Facts
1.A performance of the opera 'La Muette de Portici' at Brussels' Theatre de la Monnaie in August 1830 is credited with sparking the street riots that launched the Belgian Revolution.
2.The French, Dutch, and German versions of the anthem are not direct translations of each other; each is an independent lyrical adaptation with different wording.
3.Belgian law does not mandate playing the anthem at sporting events, so it is heard less frequently in daily life than in many other European countries.
Lyrics
Usually only the fourth verse is performed at official events
O Belgique, ô mère chérie,
A toi nos coeurs, à toi nos bras,
A toi notre sang, ô Patrie!
Nous le jurons tous, tu vivras!
Tu vivras toujours grande et belle
Et ton invincible unité
Aura pour devise immortelle:
Le Roi, la Loi, la Liberté!
Le Roi, la Loi, la Liberté!
Le Roi, la Loi, la Liberté!
Après des siècles d'esclavage,
Le Belge sortant du tombeau,
A reconquis par son courage,
Son nom, ses droits et son drapeau.
Et ta main souveraine et fière,
Désormais peuple indompté,
Grava sur ta vieille bannière:
Le Roi, la Loi, la Liberté!
Le Roi, la Loi, la Liberté!
Le Roi, la Loi, la Liberté!
Marche de ton pas énergique,
Marche de progrès en progrès;
Dieu qui protège la Belgique,
Sourit à tes mâles succès.
Travaillons, notre labeur donne
A nos champs la fécondité!
Et la splendeur des arts couronne:
Le Roi, la Loi, la Liberté!
Le Roi, la Loi, la Liberté!
Le Roi, la Loi, la Liberté!
Aimons toujours la sainte Belgique!
Que nul ne saurait arrêter.
Aimons-la, elle est unique
Et son bonheur va éclater.
Sous l'ombrage du même arbre,
Défenseurs de la liberté!
Notre devise est gravée en marbre:
Le Roi, la Loi, la Liberté!
Le Roi, la Loi, la Liberté!
Le Roi, la Loi, la Liberté!
O Belgique, ô mère chérie,
A toi nos coeurs, à toi nos bras,
A toi notre sang, ô Patrie!
Nous le jurons tous, tu vivras!
Tu vivras toujours grande et belle
Et ton invincible unité
Aura pour devise immortelle:
Le Roi, la Loi, la Liberté!
Le Roi, la Loi, la Liberté!
Le Roi, la Loi, la Liberté!
O Belgium, o beloved mother,
To you our hearts, to you our arms,
To you our blood, o Fatherland!
We all swear it, you shall live!
You shall live forever great and beautiful
And your invincible unity
Shall have for its immortal motto:
The King, the Law, Liberty!
The King, the Law, Liberty!
The King, the Law, Liberty!
After centuries of slavery,
The Belgian, rising from the tomb,
Has reconquered by his courage
His name, his rights, and his flag.
And your sovereign, proud hand,
Henceforth an indomitable people,
Engraved upon your ancient banner:
The King, the Law, Liberty!
The King, the Law, Liberty!
The King, the Law, Liberty!
March on with your spirited stride,
March from progress to progress;
God, who watches over Belgium,
Smiles upon your manly triumphs.
Let us labour, for our toil brings
Fertility to our fields!
And the splendour of the arts shall crown:
The King, the Law, Liberty!
The King, the Law, Liberty!
The King, the Law, Liberty!
Let us always love our holy Belgium!
Whom nothing could ever halt.
Let us love her, she is unique
And her happiness shall burst forth.
Beneath the shelter of the same tree,
Defenders of liberty!
Our motto is carved in marble:
The King, the Law, Liberty!
The King, the Law, Liberty!
The King, the Law, Liberty!
O Belgium, o beloved mother,
To you our hearts, to you our arms,
To you our blood, o Fatherland!
We all swear it, you shall live!
You shall live forever great and beautiful
And your invincible unity
Shall have for its immortal motto:
The King, the Law, Liberty!
The King, the Law, Liberty!
The King, the Law, Liberty!
Translations are non-official and intended to convey meaning, not replace originals
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Analysis
Editorial
Written during the Belgian Revolution of 1830 that led to independence from the Netherlands. Named after Brabant, a historical duchy in the Low Countries. The anthem exists in French, Dutch, and German versions, reflecting Belgium's three official languages.
