Luxembourg
Ons Heemecht
Our Homeland
1864
1895
Michel Lentz
Jean-Antoine Zinnen
🌿 Nature ❤ Love of homeland ✝ God / Faith 🕊 Freedom |
Key Facts
- 1. One of the few anthems written in Luxembourgish, a language spoken by fewer than 400,000 people worldwide
- 2. The anthem is entirely about nature and homeland, with no references to war, rulers, or religion
- 3. Luxembourg also has a royal anthem, 'De Wilhelmus,' used for ceremonies involving the Grand Duke
Lyrics
Wou d'Uelzecht durech d'Wisen zéit,
Durech d'Fielsen d'Sauer brécht,
Wou d'Rief laanscht d'Musel dofteg bléit,
Den Himmel Wäin ons mécht:
Dat ass onst Land, fir dat mer géif
Heianzdo alles won,
Onst Heemechtsland, dat mir sou déif
An eisen Hierzer dron.
Onst Heemechtsland, dat mir sou déif
An eisen Hierzer dron.
O Du do uewen, deem séng Hand
Durech d'Welt d'Natioune leet,
Behitt Du d'Lëtzebuerger Land
Vru friemem Joch a Leed.
Du hues ons all als Kanner schon
De fräie Geescht jo ginn,
Looss viru blénken d'Fräiheetssonn,
Déi mir sou laang gesinn!
Looss viru blénken d'Fräiheetssonn,
Déi mir sou laang gesinn!
Translations are non-official and intended to convey meaning, not replace originals
Analysis
EditorialWritten by Michel Lentz in 1864 with music by Jean-Antoine Zinnen. Officially adopted in 1895, the anthem celebrates Luxembourg's rivers and landscapes. It is written in Luxembourgish, the national language, which distinguishes it from the French and German also widely spoken in the country.