On the Shelf
By Paul Guffin
2 min read
National Anthems: Netherlands
I mentioned in my first column about national anthems that the anthem of the Netherlands was the oldest in the world. The lyrics date back to at least 1572 — although some place it as early as 1568. The official title is “Wilhelmus van Nassouwe”, usually known as “Wilhelmus” (“William” in English).
The anthem originated in the Dutch Revolt, the nation’s struggle to achieve independence from the Spanish Empire. It is said that sometime between the start of the Eighty Years’ War in April, 1568, and the capture of Brielle on April 1, 1572, either Philips of Marnix, a writer, statesman, and former mayor of Antwerp, or Dirck Coornhert, a politician and theologian, wrote the lyric — even though neither of them ever said that they wrote the lyrics. The melody for the anthem was borrowed from a well-known Roman Catholic French song titled “Autre chanson de la ville de Chartres assiégée par le prince de Condé”.
The song was proclaimed the national anthem on May 10, 1932, when it was decreed that on all official occasions requiring the performance of the national anthem, the “Wilhelmus” was to be played.
The anthem consists of fifteen verses. Here are the first four of them (you can find the entire anthem at https://www.royal-house.nl/topics/national-anthem/music-lyrics-and-customs):
William of Nassau, scion
Of a Dutch and ancient line,
I dedicate undying
Faith to this land of mine.
A prince I am, undaunted,
Of Orange, ever free,
To the king of Spain I've granted
A lifelong loyalty.
I've ever tried to live in
The fear of God's command
And therefore I've been driven,
From people, home, and land,
But God, I trust, will rate me
His willing instrument
And one day reinstate me
Into my government.
Let no despair betray you,
My subjects true and good.
The Lord will surely stay you
Though now you are pursued.
He who would live devoutly
Must pray God day and night
To throw His power about me
As champion of your right.
Life and my all for others
I sacrificed, for you!
And my illustrious brothers
Proved their devotion too.
Count Adolf, more's the pity,
Fell in the Frisian fray,
And in the eternal city
Awaits the judgement day.