National Anthem Comparison
Belgium vs Netherlands
2
Shared themes
✗
Different moods
288
288 years apart
✓
Same continent
Comparison Analysis
Belgium and Netherlands, both Europe nations, take distinct approaches to their national anthems. Belgium's "The Brabanconne" was written in 1860, while Netherlands's "The William" dates to 1572.
Both anthems share themes of freedom and monarchy. Belgium additionally explores unity, independence and love of homeland, while Netherlands also touches on god / faith, battle / war and resilience.
The emotional tones differ: Belgium's anthem is proud, while Netherlands's is solemn.
Netherlands's anthem predates Belgium's by 288 years, having been written in 1572 compared to 1860.
Belgium changed its national anthem in 1860, reflecting a shift in the nation's identity or political landscape.
Shared themes
Belgium
🕊 Freedom 🤝 Unity 🗽 Independence 👑 Monarchy ❤ Love of homeland
Netherlands
✝ God / Faith 👑 Monarchy 🕊 Freedom ⚔ Battle / War 💪 Resilience
Shared themes:
🕊 Freedom 👑 Monarchy
Metadata
| Belgium | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Written | 1860 | 1572 |
| Adopted | 1860 | 1932 |
| Lyricist | Charles Rogier | Unknown (attributed to Philips of Marnix) |
| Composer | François Van Campenhout | Unknown |
| Language | fr | nl |
| Region | Western Europe | Western Europe |
Lyrics Side by Side
Belgium
La Brabançonne
Original
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!
Translation
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!
Netherlands
Het Wilhelmus
Original
Wilhelmus van Nassouwe
Ben ik, van Duitsen bloed,
Den vaderland getrouwe
Blijf ik tot in den dood.
Een Prinse van Oranje
Ben ik, vrij, onverveerd,
Den Koning van Hispanje
Heb ik altijd geëerd.
Mijn schild ende betrouwen
Zijt Gij, o God mijn Heer,
Op U zo wil ik bouwen,
Verlaat mij nimmermeer.
Dat ik doch vroom mag blijven,
Uw dienaar t'aller stond,
De tirannie verdrijven
Die mij mijn hart doorwondt.
Translation
William of Nassau
Am I, of German blood,
Faithful to the fatherland
I remain until death.
A Prince of Orange
Am I, free and fearless,
The King of Spain
I have always honoured.
My shield and my trust
Are You, O God my Lord,
On You I wish to build,
Never forsake me.
That I may remain devout,
Your servant at all times,
Driving out the tyranny
That wounds my heart.
Interesting facts
Belgium
- 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 literal translations of each other; the German texts, for example, are free adaptations of the French or Dutch versions.
- 3. Belgium has no official version of La Brabançonne: commissions set up to fix its text and melody never finished their work, and the only recognition came in 1921, when an Interior Ministry circular made the fourth stanza of Rogier's 1860 text official.
Netherlands
- 1. The full anthem has 15 stanzas, but usually only the first is sung, sometimes followed by the sixth.
- 2. The first letters of the 15 stanzas spell out "Willem van Nassov", an old spelling of William of Nassau.
- 3. The melody comes from a French Catholic soldier's song mocking the failed siege of Chartres by the Huguenot Prince of Condé in 1568, so the song of a Protestant revolt borrowed a tune written against a Protestant leader.
- 4. In the first stanza William declares that he has always honoured the King of Spain, the monarch whose rule the revolt was fighting.
- 5. Although it dates from the 16th century, it became the official national anthem only on 10 May 1932, by decision of the Council of Ministers, replacing "Wien Neêrlands Bloed", which had held that role since the early 19th century.
Listen
Belgium
Netherlands
