Hi, Im looking for information about the national anthem of Netherlands.

Who wrote the Dutch national anthem (lyrics and music)?

When was the national anthem of Netherlands officially adopted?

Please add any valuable information like links to anthem’s mp3, video, lyrics, free sheet music etc.

The National anthem of Netherlands is “Het Wilhelmus” which means in English “The William”.

The lyrics to Netherlands’s national anthem were written by Philips VAN MARNIX van Sint Aldegonde (presumed).

The composer of “Het Wilhelmus” is unknown.

Adopted 1932, In Use Since The 17Th Century, Making It The Oldest National Anthem In The World; Also Known As “Wilhelmus Van Nassouwe” (William Of Nassau), It Is In The Form Of An Acrostic, Where The First Letter Of Each Stanza Spells The Name Of The Leader Of The Dutch Revolt.

 

Press to download the mp3 file of Netherlands’s National anthem – See link (file source: cia world factbook).

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwBrR_G70RE

 

First stanza

William of Nassau, scion

Of a Dutch and ancient line,

I dedicate undying

Faith to this land of mine.

A prince am I undaunted,

Of Orange, ever free,

To the king of Spain I’ve granted

A lifelong loyalty.

 

Second stanza

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.

 

Third stanza

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.

 

Fourth stanza

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.

 

Fifth stanza

I, nobly born, descended

From an imperial stock.

An empire’s prince, defended

(Braving the battle’s shock

Heroically and fearless

As pious Christian ought)

With my life’s blood the peerless

Gospel of God our Lord.

 

Sixth stanza

A shield and my reliance,

O God, Thou ever wert.

I’ll trust unto Thy guidance.

O leave me not ungirt.

That I may stay a pious

Servant of Thine for aye

And drive the plagues that try us

And tyranny away.

 

Seventh stanza

My God, I pray thee, save me

From all who do pursue

And threaten to enslave me,

Thy trusted servant true.

O Father, do not sanction

Their wicked, foul design,

Don’t let them wash their hands in

This guiltless blood of mine.

 

Eighth stanza

O David, thou soughtest shelter

From King Saul’s tyranny.

Even so I fled this welter

And many a lord with me.

But God the Lord did save him

From exile and its hell

And, in His mercy, gave him

A realm in Israel.

 

Ninth stanza

Fear not ‘t will rain sans ceasing

The clouds are bound to part.

I bide that sight so pleasing

Unto my princely heart,

Which is that I with honor

Encounter death in war,

And meet in heaven my Donor,

His faithful warrior.

 

Tenth stanza

Nothing so moves my pity

As seeing through these lands,

Field, village, town and city

Pillaged by roving hands.

O that the Spaniards rape thee,

My Netherlands so sweet,

The thought of that does grip me

Causing my heart to bleed.

 

Eleventh stanza

Astride on steed of mettle

I’ve waited with my host

The tyrant’s call to battle,

Who durst not do his boast.

For, near Maastricht ensconced,

He feared the force I wield.

My horsemen saw one bounce it

Bravely across the field.

 

Twelfth stanza

Surely, if God had willed it,

When that fierce tempest blew,

My power would have stilled it,

Or turned its blast from you

But He who dwells in heaven,

Whence all our blessings flow,

For which aye praise be given,

Did not desire it so.

 

Thirteenth stanza

Steadfast my heart remaineth

In my adversity

My princely courage straineth

All nerves to live and be.

I’ve prayed the Lord my Master

With fervid heart and tense

To save me from disaster

And prove my innocence.

 

Fourteenth stanza

Alas! my flock. To sever

Is hard on us. Farewell.

Your Shepherd wakes, wherever

Dispersed you may dwell,

Pray God that He may ease you.

His Gospel be your cure.

Walk in the steps of Jesus

This life will not endure.

 

Fifteenth stanza

Unto the Lord His power

I do confession make

That ne’er at any hour

Ill of the King I spake.

But unto God, the greatest

Of Majesties I owe

Obedience first and latest,

For Justice wills it so.

 

You can find more information about Dutch anthem on Wikipedia – See link.

Sheet Music: View the Dutch national anthem sheet music – See link.

Dutch national symbol: lion.

Conventional short form country name: Netherlands.

Conventional long form country name: Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Local short form country name: Nederland.

Local long form country name: Koninkrijk der Nederlanden.

 

Netherlands Government Type: constitutional monarchy.

 

Constitutional monarchy is a system of government in which a monarch is guided by a constitution whereby his/her rights, duties, and responsibilities are spelled out in written law or by custom.ֲ