Anthem · War and march · 1570 · Europe
Wilhelmus
Wilhelmus van Nassouwe
The national anthem of the Netherlands, first sung in the 1570s in the revolt against Spain. It is the oldest national anthem still in use.
- Words
- anonymous (attributed to Philips of Marnix, Dirck Coornhert or Pieter Datheen)
- Music
- anonymous (melody of a French song of 1568)
- Culture
- The Dutch: the rebels of the Dutch Revolt, later the Netherlands
- Language
- Dutch
- Place
- Low Countries, Netherlands
- Date
- between 1568 and 1572; first attested 1573
- Type
- Anthem · War and march
- The words
- Public domain (lyrics anonymous (written 1568–1572; first printed 1573))
The story
The "Wilhelmus" was written at the start of the Eighty Years' War, the Dutch Revolt against the Spanish Empire, at some time between April 1568 and the capture of Brielle on 1 April 1572, an event it does not mention. It is first attested in 1573, sung during the siege of Haarlem, and in a German translation of the same year; the oldest complete Dutch text is in a Geuzenliedboek (Beggars' songbook) printed in 1577–1578. Its author is not known. Philips of Marnix and Dirck Coornhert were named early on, but neither ever claimed it, and its awkward rhymes make some doubt that either experienced poet wrote it; recent stylometric research has pointed to Pieter Datheen. The tune was borrowed from a Catholic French song mocking the Huguenot prince Louis of Condé's failed siege of Chartres in 1568, so a satire of one Protestant prince became a tribute to another.
The song is unusual among anthems in being a first-person monologue of William of Orange, the leader of the revolt. It sets out his struggle to stay loyal to Philip II of Spain without betraying his conscience, God and the people, placing the blame on the king's emissaries such as the Duke of Alba. The first letters of its fifteen stanzas spell "Willem van Nassov", and the stanzas mirror one another around the eighth, which compares William to David fleeing Saul. In 1581 the Netherlands rejected the Spanish king's rule in the Act of Abjuration.
For two centuries the song served as a military and political signal. Spanish musicians played it mockingly at the siege of Alkmaar in 1573; it was played at William's entry into Brussels in 1577 and after the liberation of Groningen in 1594. Ships of the Dutch East India Company sounded it before engagements in colonial wars, and in the Great Ambon War of 1655 a trumpeter played it to signal the assault. In the disaster year 1672 crowds sang it to press the regents to make William III stadholder. Adriaen Valerius published a slow, devotional version in 1626; in the 18th century it became a fast instrumental "Princes' March" of the Orangists, which the ten-year-old Mozart set in seven variations at The Hague in 1766. After the Batavian Revolution it was banned as a symbol of the House of Orange.
The new kingdom chose another anthem, "Wien Neêrlands Bloed", adopted in 1817. But the "Wilhelmus" came back, helped by the republication of Valerius's melody in 1871 and Eduard Kremser's solemn arrangement of 1877; Queen Wilhelmina had it played at her inauguration in 1898, and on 10 May 1932 it became the official national anthem. Under the German occupation crowds sang it in demonstrations in June 1940, the authorities banned royal symbols, and the whole resistance took it up, while the collaborating NSB dropped it. In the Dutch East Indies it was also a song of colonial rule: political prisoners who refused to sing it were sent to the Boven-Digoel camp, where a protest version was made to its tune, and Indonesian nationalists chose "Indonesia Raya" as their anthem as early as 1928.
Today the first stanza, sometimes followed by the sixth, is played at state ceremonies, Remembrance of the Dead, Liberation Day, King's Day, inaugurations and sporting events. Flemish nationalist rallies such as the IJzerbedevaart close with its sixth stanza.
What it says
William of Orange speaks in his own voice: he declares his descent, his faith in God and his loyalty to the king, and explains that conscience has forced him into revolt against the king's harsh governors. He compares himself with the biblical David, comforts his followers in exile and defeat, and asks God for the strength to drive out tyranny. Its tone is that of a psalm as much as a war song.
The words
Wilhelmus van NassouweWilliam of Nassau
ben ik, van Duitsen bloed,am I, of Dutch blood;
den vaderland getrouwefaithful to the fatherland
blijf ik tot in den dood.I remain until death.
Een Prinse van OranjeA Prince of Orange
ben ik, vrij, onverveerd,am I, free, unafraid;
den Koning van Hispanjethe King of Spain
heb ik altijd geëerd.I have always honoured.
In Godes vrees te levenTo live in the fear of God
heb ik altijd betracht,I have always striven;
daarom ben ik verdreven,therefore I am driven out,
om land, om luid gebracht.bereft of land, of people.
Maar God zal mij regerenBut God will govern me
als een goed instrument,as a good instrument,
dat ik zal wederkerenso that I shall return
in mijnen regiment.into my rule.
Show all 120 lines
Lijdt u, mijn onderzatenBear it patiently, my subjects,
die oprecht zijt van aard,who are upright by nature;
God zal u niet verlaten,God will not forsake you,
al zijt gij nu bezwaard.though you are now burdened.
Die vroom begeert te leven,Whoever wishes to live piously,
bidt God nacht ende dag,let him pray to God night and day
dat Hij mij kracht zal geven,that He will give me strength,
dat ik u helpen mag.that I may help you.
Lijf en goed al te samenLife and goods all together
heb ik u niet verschoond,I have not spared for you;
mijn broeders hoog van namenmy brothers, high of name,
hebben 't u ook vertoond:have also shown it to you:
Graaf Adolf is geblevenCount Adolf has fallen
in Friesland in den slag,in Friesland, in the battle;
zijn ziel in 't eeuwig levenhis soul in eternal life
verwacht den jongsten dag.awaits the Last Day.
Edel en hooggeboren,Noble and high-born,
van keizerlijken stam,of imperial stock,
een vorst des rijks verkoren,chosen a prince of the Empire,
als een vroom christenman,as a pious Christian man,
voor Godes woord geprezen,praised for God's word,
heb ik, vrij onversaagd,I have, free and undaunted,
als een held zonder vrezenas a hero without fear
mijn edel bloed gewaagd.ventured my noble blood.
Mijn schild ende betrouwenMy shield and my trust
zijt Gij, o God mijn Heer,are You, O God my Lord;
op U zo wil ik bouwen,on You I will build,
Verlaat mij nimmermeer.forsake me nevermore.
Dat ik doch vroom mag blijven,That I may yet remain pious,
uw dienaar t'aller stond,your servant at every hour,
de tirannie verdrijvenand drive out the tyranny
die mij mijn hart doorwondt.that wounds me through my heart.
Van al die mij bezwarenFrom all who burden me
en mijn vervolgers zijn,and are my persecutors,
mijn God, wil doch bewarenmy God, be pleased to keep
den trouwen dienaar dijn,your faithful servant,
dat zij mij niet verrassenthat they do not take me by surprise
in hunnen bozen moed,in their wicked intent,
hun handen niet en wassendo not wash their hands
in mijn onschuldig bloed.in my innocent blood.
Als David moeste vluchtenAs David had to flee
voor Sauel den tiran,before Saul the tyrant,
zo heb ik moeten zuchtenso I have had to sigh
als menig edelman.as many a nobleman.
Maar God heeft hem verheven,But God has raised him up,
verlost uit alder nood,delivered him from all distress,
een koninkrijk gegevengiven him a kingdom
in Israël zeer groot.in Israel, very great.
Na 't zuur zal ik ontvangenAfter the sour I shall receive
van God mijn Heer dat zoet,from God my Lord the sweet;
daarna zo doet verlangenfor that so longs
mijn vorstelijk gemoed:my princely heart:
dat is, dat ik mag sterventhat is, that I may die
met eren in dat veld,with honour on the field,
een eeuwig rijk verwervenand win an eternal kingdom
als een getrouwen held.as a faithful hero.
Niet doet mij meer erbarmenNothing moves me more to pity
in mijnen wederspoedin my adversity
dan dat men ziet verarmenthan that one sees impoverished
des Konings landen goed.the King's good lands.
Dat u de Spanjaards krenken,That the Spaniards wrong you,
o edel Neerland zoet,O noble, sweet Netherland,
als ik daaraan gedenke,when I think of it,
mijn edel hart dat bloedt.my noble heart, it bleeds.
Als een prins opgezetenAs a prince on horseback
met mijner heires-kracht,with the strength of my army,
van den tiran vermetenfrom the arrogant tyrant
heb ik den slag verwacht,I awaited the battle;
die, bij Maastricht begraven,he, dug in by Maastricht,
bevreesde mijn geweld;feared my force;
mijn ruiters zag men dravenmy horsemen were seen riding
zeer moedig door dat veld.most boldly through the field.
Zo het den wil des HerenIf it had been the will of the Lord
op dien tijd had geweest,at that time,
had ik geern willen kerenI would gladly have turned away
van u dit zwaar tempeest.from you this heavy tempest.
Maar de Heer van hierboven,But the Lord from up above,
die alle ding regeert,who rules all things,
die men altijd moet loven,whom one must always praise,
en heeft het niet begeerd.did not desire it.
Zeer christlijk was gedrevenVery Christian was the drive
mijn prinselijk gemoed,of my princely heart;
standvastig is geblevensteadfast has remained
mijn hart in tegenspoed.my heart in adversity.
Den Heer heb ik gebedenThe Lord I have prayed
uit mijnes harten grond,from the bottom of my heart
dat Hij mijn zaak wil redden,that He will save my cause,
mijn onschuld maken kond.make my innocence known.
Oorlof, mijn arme schapenFarewell, my poor sheep,
die zijt in groten nood,who are in great distress;
uw herder zal niet slapen,your shepherd will not sleep,
al zijt gij nu verstrooid.though you are now scattered.
Tot God wilt u begeven,Turn to God,
zijn heilzaam woord neemt aan,take up his saving word,
als vrome christen leven,-live as pious Christians,-
't zal hier haast zijn gedaan.it will soon be over here.
Voor God wil ik belijdenBefore God I will confess,
en zijner groten macht,and before his great might,
dat ik tot genen tijdenthat at no time
den Koning heb veracht,have I despised the King,
dan dat ik God den Heere,except that God the Lord,
der hoogsten Majesteit,the highest Majesty,
heb moeten obediërenI have had to obey
in der gerechtigheid.in righteousness.
Original: Anonymous (c. 1570); the original text. Text from Wikisource; public domain.
The English is the Institute’s own translation, made from the original for this page.
Notes on the translation (19)
- The first letters of the fifteen stanzas spell WILLEM VAN NASSOV (William of Nassau); the acrostic is lost in translation and could be mentioned on the page.
- The source text is in modernized spelling (as on Wikisource), not the 1570s orthography; it was translated as given.
- line 1.2: 'Duitsen' (Duytschen) in the 16th century meant 'Dutch' in the old wide sense, of the Low German and Dutch lands, not 'German' in today's sense; William's family was from Nassau in Germany. Both senses are argued; editor should choose how to gloss it.
- line 1.7-1.8 and stanza 15: the song presents William as loyal to Philip II and fighting only his ministers (Alba), the official line of the revolt at the time.
- line 2.4: 'om land, om luid gebracht' = deprived of land and people ('luid' = people, subjects).
- line 2.8: 'regiment' = rule, government (his offices as stadholder), not a military regiment.
- line 3.1: 'Lijdt u' = be patient, endure (it).
- line 4.2: 'heb ik u niet verschoond' = I have not spared (withheld) for your sake; it does not mean he did not spare the subjects.
- line 4.5: 'is gebleven' = remained (on the field), i.e. fell: Adolf of Nassau, killed at Heiligerlee in 1568.
- line 5.3: 'een vorst des rijks verkoren' is unclear: 'chosen' may mean elevated or simply 'a chosen prince of the (Holy Roman) Empire'.
- line 6.8: 'die mij mijn hart doorwondt' = that wounds my heart through (pierces me to the heart).
- line 9.3-9.4: 'daarna zo doet verlangen mijn vorstelijk gemoed' = for that my princely heart (mind) longs; word order kept.
- line 10.4: 'des Konings landen goed' can be read as 'the King's good lands' or 'the King's lands and their goods'.
- line 11.3: 'vermeten' = presumptuous, arrogant; the tyrant is the Duke of Alba.
- line 11.5: 'bij Maastricht begraven' = entrenched (dug in) near Maastricht, in 1568; not 'buried'.
- line 11.7: 'draven' is literally 'trot'; rendered 'riding'.
- line 13.1: 'Zeer christlijk was gedreven mijn prinselijk gemoed' = my princely mind (heart) was driven in a very Christian way; rendered loosely in word order.
- line 14.1: 'Oorlof' = farewell (literally leave, permission to go).
- line 8.2: 'Sauel' is the old form of Saul, kept as the name.
Listen
On YouTube, from the channel Het Erasmuskoor - Topic. Pressing play loads YouTube’s player. Watch on YouTube
What it inspired
- Nederlandtsche Gedenck-clanck (Adriaen Valerius) 1626adapted as (slow devotional setting)
- Ack, Göta konungarike 1626same melody
- Variations for recorder in Der Fluyten Lust-hof (Jacob van Eyck)adapted as
- Seven variations, KV 25 (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart) 1766adapted as
- Romantic arrangement (Eduard Kremser) 1877adapted as
- Malay translation, sung at the colonial exhibition in Amsterdam 1883translation
- De Wilhelmus (grand ducal anthem of Luxembourg) 1919 (lyrics)same melody
- Wenn alle untreu werden 1923same melody
- Nederlandsch Volkslied, band edition (Coenraad Lodewijk Walther Boer) 1928adapted as
- Mentawaian contrafactum early 20th centurysame melody
- Het Digoel Wilhelmusparody (protest song of Boven-Digoel prisoners)
What it drew on
- Autre chanson de la ville de Chartres assiégée par le prince de Condé 1568same melody
People, places and events
Sources
- Wikipedia, "Wilhelmus", https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilhelmus
Cite this page
- APA
- The Epoch Institute. (2026). Wilhelmus. In Songs in History. https://the-epoch-institute.org/songs/wilhelmus
- MLA
- “Wilhelmus.” Songs in History, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/songs/wilhelmus. Accessed .
- Chicago
- The Epoch Institute. “Wilhelmus.” Songs in History. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/songs/wilhelmus.
- Harvard
- The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Wilhelmus’, Songs in History. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/songs/wilhelmus (Accessed: ).