Wilhelmus

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Het Wilhelmus (The William [viz. 'song']) is the national anthem of the Netherlands and is the oldest national anthem in the world. Although it was not recognized as the official national anthem until 1932, it was seen as the one and only real Dutch anthem by the people.

It is also one of the very few anthems that does not focus on the history or military accomplishments of the people it represents, on the contrary, it tells of William of Orange, his life and why he is fighting for the Dutch people. As a result, the anthem is written as if it were sung by William himself.

Contents

[edit] History and origin

On 10 May 1932, it was decreed that on all official occasions requiring the performance of the national anthem, the Wilhelmus was to be played, replacing Hendrik Tollens' Wien Nêerlands bloed door d'aderen vloeit. Before that, the Wilhelmus had been sung on many official occasions and at many important events since 1568: events such as the siege of Haarlem in 1573 and the ceremonial entry of the Prince of Orange into Brussels on 18 September 1578. Trumpets sounded the Wilhelmus when Prince Maurice visited Breda, and again when he was received in state in Amsterdam in May 1618. When William V arrived in Schoonhoven in 1787, after the authority of the stadholders had been restored, the church bells played the Wilhelmus continuously. By then, it had come to be called the "Princes' March", having been banned during the rule of the Patriot party. At the celebrations marking the birth of the child who would later be King William II on 16 December 1792, it was sung after High Mass in the Catholic church in Venlo. Following the surrender of 's-Hertogenbosch to the French on 9 October 1794, the garrison withdrew with full military honours to the sound of the Wilhelmus. However, at the foundation of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in 1813, the Wilhelmus had fallen out of favour.

[edit] Structure and melody

The complete text comprises fifteen stanzas. The anthem is an acrostic: the first letters of the fifteen stanzas formed the name 'Willem van Nassov' (Nassov was a contemporary orthographic variant of Nassau), although in modern Dutch spelling the first words of the twelfth and thirteenth stanzas begin with Z instead of S.

The text is also thematically symmetrical, in that verses one and 15 resemble on another in meaning, as do verses two and 14, three and 13, etc., until they converge in the eighth verse, the heart of the song: "Oh David, thou soughtest shelter/From King Saul's tyranny". The sober language and deep feelings that inspired the Wilhelmus make it far superior to the fashionable works of its period.

The tune of the Wilhelmus is based on a French soldiers' song, which was popular around 1569. It probably originated at the time of the siege of Chartres. The melody was further developed by Adriaen Valerius (approx. 1575-1625). The official version is the arrangement by Walther Boer, dating from 1932.

[edit] The Anthem


Orginal Dutch lyrics Contemporary Dutch lyrics English lyrics meant to fit the melody Translation of the Dutch version.
First stanza

Wilhelmus van Nassouwe
Ben ick van Duytschen bloet,
Den Vaderlant getrouwe
Blyf ick tot in den doot:
Een Prince van Oraengien
Ben ick vrij onverveert,
Den Coninck van Hispaengien
Heb ick altijt gheeert.

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.

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.

William of Nassau
am I of [t.b.d.l] blood.
I will remain loyal to the fatherland, until I die.
I am a prince of Orange,
free and fearless.
I have always honoured the king of Spain.

Second stanza

In Godes vrees te leven
Heb ick altyt betracht,
Daerom ben ick verdreven
Om Landt om Luyd ghebracht:
Maer God sal mij regeren
Als een goet Instrument,
Dat ick zal wederkeeren
In mijnen Regiment.

In Godes vrees te leven
heb ik altijd betracht,
daarom ben ik verdreven,
om land, om luid gebracht.
Maar God zal mij regeren
als een goed instrument,
dat ik zal wederkeren
in mijnen regiment.

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.

To live in peace with God
is something I have always tried,
it is because of this,
that I was driven from my land
But God will guide me
like an instrument
so that I may return to you,
with my forces.

Third stanza

Lydt u myn Ondersaten
Die oprecht zyn van aert,
Godt sal u niet verlaten
Al zijt ghy nu beswaert:
Die vroom begheert te leven
Bidt Godt nacht ende dach,
Dat hy my cracht wil gheven
Dat ick u helpen mach.

Lijdt u, mijn onderzaten
die oprecht zijt van aard,
God zal u niet verlaten,
al zijt gij nu bezwaard.
Die vroom begeert te leven,
bidt God nacht ende dag,
dat Hij mij kracht zal geven,
dat ik u helpen mag.

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.

Hold on my subjects,
for you are honest and fair,
God will not abandon you,
even though you now in despair.
He who tried to live in peace with God,
prays to Him day and night,
so that He will give me the strenght,
to relieve you.

Fourth stanza

Lyf en goet al te samen
Heb ick u niet verschoont,
Mijn broeders hooch van Namen
Hebbent u oock vertoont:
Graef Adolff is ghebleven
In Vriesland in den slaech,
Syn Siel int ewich Leven
Verwacht den Jongsten dach.

Lijf en goed al te samen
heb ik u niet verschoond,
mijn broeders hoog van namen
hebben 't u ook vertoond:
Graaf Adolf is gebleven
in Friesland in den slag,
zijn ziel in 't eeuwig leven
verwacht den jongsten dag.

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.

I did not spare my body or wealth
to help you,
my noble brothers
have shown you this as well:
Count Adolf died in Frisia during the battle
his soul awaits eternal life
and awaits the final judgement.

Fifth stanza

Edel en Hooch gheboren
Van Keyserlicken Stam:
Een Vorst des Rijcks vercoren
Als een vroom Christen man,
Voor Godes Woort ghepreesen
Heb ick vrij onversaecht,
Als een Helt sonder vreesen
Mijn edel bloet ghewaecht.

Edel en hooggeboren,
van keizerlijken stam,
een vorst des rijks verkoren,
als een vroom christenman,
voor Godes woord geprezen,
heb ik, vrij onversaagd,
als een held zonder vreden
mijn edel bloed gewaagd.

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.

A born noble and one of high stature,
of imperial decent,
a een noble chosen by the empire.
A honest Christian,
faithful to the word of God,
I bravely risked my own noble blood.

Sixth stanza

Mijn Schilt ende betrouwen
Sijt ghy, o Godt mijn Heer,
Op u soo wil ick bouwen
Verlaet mij nimmermeer:
Dat ick doch vroom mach blijven
V dienaer taller stondt,
Die Tyranny verdrijven,
Die my mijn hert doorwondt.

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.

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.

My shield and reliance are you, o God my lord.
It is you on who I want to rely,
never leave me.
So that I may remain brave, for I'm your servant for eternity, and to defeat the tyranny, which pierced my heart

Seventh stanza

Van al die my beswaren,
End mijn Vervolghers zijn,
Mijn Godt wilt doch bewaren
Den trouwen dienaer dijn:
Dat sy my niet verrasschen
In haren boosen moet,
Haer handen niet en wasschen
In mijn onschuldich bloet.

Van al die mij bezwaren
en mijn vervolgers zijn,
mijn God, wil doch bewaren
den trouwen dienaar dijn,
dat zij mij niet verrassen
in hunnen bozen moed,
hun handen niet en wassen
in mijn onschuldig bloed.

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.

Despite all who which want to hurt me,
and are persue me.,
I want to remain to be your,
loyal servant,
Do not let them surprise me
with their evil courage,
and do not allow them,
to wash their hands in my innocent blood.

Eighth stanza

Als David moeste vluchten
Voor Saul den Tyran:
Soo heb ick moeten suchten
Met menich Edelman:
Maer Godt heeft hem verheven
Verlost uit alder noot,
Een Coninckrijk ghegheven
In Israel seer groot.

Als David moeste vluchten
voor Sauel den tiran,
zo heb ik moeten zuchten
als menig edelman.
Maar God heeft hem verheven,
verlost uit alder nood,
een koninkrijk gegeven
in Israël zeer groot.

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 me
From exile and its hell
And, in His mercy, gave him
A realm in Israel.

I had to suffer, like many other nobles,
like David, who was forced to flee
from Saul, the tyrant.
But God saved him,
relieving him of despair,
and gave him an honerable Kingdom in Israel.

Ninth stanza

Na tsuer sal ick ontfanghen
Van Godt mijn Heer dat soet,
Daer na so doet verlanghen
Mijn Vorstelick ghemoet:
Dat is dat ick mach sterven
Met eeren in dat Velt,
Een eewich Rijck verwerven
Als een ghetrouwe Helt.

Na 't zuur zal ik ontvangen
van God mijn Heer dat zoet,
daarnaar zo doet verlangen
mijn vorstelijk gemoed:
dat is, dat ik mag sterven
met eren in dat veld,
een eeuwig rijk verwerven
als een getrouwen held.

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.

After these hardships,
God will grant me peace.
Oh, how my noble mind desires,
to die with honour in the field
and to receive an eternal realm,
As a faithfull hero.

Tenth stanza

Niet doet my meer erbarmen
In mijnen wederspoet,
Dan dat men siet verarmen
Des Conincks Landen goet,
Dat v de Spaengiaerts crencken
O Edel Neerlandt soet,
Als ick daer aen ghedencke
Mijn Edel hert dat bloet.

Niet doet mij meer erbarmen
in mijnen wederspoed
dan dat men ziet verarmen
des Konings landen goed.
Dat u de Spanjaards krenken,
o edel Neerland zoet,
als ik daaraan gedenke,
mijn edel hart dat bloedt.

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.

Nothing hurts me more
in my despair
then to withness the rape
of the Kings heritary lands.
To know you resist the Spanyards,
O Noble Netherlands,
when I think of that,
my royal heart bleeds.

Eleventh stanza

Als een Prins op gheseten
Met mijner Heyres cracht,
Van den Tyran vermeten
Heb ick den Slach verwacht,
Die by Maestricht begraven
Bevreesde mijn ghewelt,
Mijn ruyters sach men draven.
Seer moedich door dat Velt.

Als een prins opgezeten
met mijner heireskracht,
van den tiran vermeten
heb ik den slag verwacht,
die, bij Maastricht begraven,
bevreesde mijn geweld;
mijn ruiters zag men draven
zeer moedig door dat veld.

A stride 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.

Like a proper prince
with my noble strenght,
I defeated the tyrant near Maastricht.
People saw my horsemen ride,
bravely through the field.

Twelfth stanza

Soo het den wille des Heeren
Op die tyt had gheweest,
Had ick gheern willen keeren
Van v dit swaer tempeest:
Maer de Heer van hier boven
Die alle dinck regeert.
Diemen altijd moet loven
En heeftet niet begheert.

Zo het den wil des Heren
op dien tijd had geweest,
had ik geern willen keren
van u dit zwaar tempeest.
Maar de Heer van hierboven,
die alle ding regeert,
die men altijd moet loven,
en heeft het niet begeerd.

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.

If, at the time, it had been Gods will
that I was to succeed,
I would have won and relieved you
of this tempest
But the Lord above,
who rules all,
He who we should always trust,
did not desire so.

Thirteenth stanza

Seer Prinslick was ghedreven
Mijn Princelick ghemoet,
Stantvastich is ghebleven
Mijn hert in teghenspoet,
Den Heer heb ick ghebeden
Van mijnes herten gront,
Dat hy mijn saeck wil reden,
Mijn onschult doen bekant.

Zeer christlijk was gedreven
mijn prinselijk gemoed,
standvastig is gebleven
mijn hart in tegenspoed.
Den Heer heb ik gebeden
uit mijnes harten grond,
dat Hij mijn zaak wil redden,
mijn onschuld maken kond.

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.

As a true Christian,
my princly mind,
remained focussed,
with a nervous heart.
To the lord I've prayed,
from the bottom of my heart,
that He may save my cause,
and prove my innmocence.

Fourteenth stanza

Oorlof mijn arme Schapen
Die zijt in grooten noot,
V Herder sal niet slapen
Al zijt ghy nu verstroyt:
Tot Godt wilt v begheven,
Syn heylsaem Woort neemt aen,
Als vrome Christen leven,
Tsal hier haest zijn ghedaen.

Oorlof, mijn arme schapen
die zijt in groten nood,
uw herder zal niet slapen,
al zijt gij nu verstrooid.
Tot God wilt u begeven,
zijn heilzaam woord neemt aan,
als vrome christen leven,-
't zal hier haast zijn gedaan.

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.

Alas my sheep
who are in deep despair.
Your shepard will not sleep,
even though you are now dispersed.
Turn to God, accept his curing word,
and live as a good Christian,
It will all be over soon.

Fifteenth stanza

Voor Godt wil ick belijden
End zijner grooter Macht,
Dat ick tot gheenen tijden
Den Coninck heb veracht:
Dan dat ick Godt den Heere
Der hoochster Maiesteyt,
Heb moeten obedieren,
Inder gherechticheyt.

Voor God wil ik belijden
en zijner groten macht,
dat ik tot genen tijden
den Koning heb veracht,
dan dat ik God den Heere,
der hoogsten Majesteit,
heb moeten obediëren
in der gerechtigheid.

Unto the Lord His power
I do not 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.

I want to answer to God,
and his greatness,
even though I have despised the King
I've never done so with God,
for he is the ultimate power,
and I will answer to him alone
until justice.

Acrostic

W I L L E M V A N N A S S O V

W I L L E M V A N N A Z Z O V

W I L L I A M O F N A S S A U

Non Applicatable

[edit] Interpretation

  • There is an ongoing confusion and dispute as to what the author meant with "Duytschen bloedt" in the text, since the Dutch word "Duits" means "German". Both could be correct as William of Nassau was born in Dillenburg in the county of Nassau (presently in Germany), they believe it is possible that it referred to William's German (rather than Dutch) descent. Some people claim that it referred to the Dutch in the sense that he felt one of them rather than belonging to them ethnically.
  • The last two lines of the first stanza indicate that the leader of the Dutch civil war against Spanish Empire of which they were part, had no specific quarrel with the king, but rather with his emissaries in the Low Countries, like Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, 3rd Duke of Alba. This may have been because at the time (late 16th century) it was uncommon to publicly doubt the 'God-given rights' of kings. It strikes the modern Dutch ear as an obsolete formula. For some of the resistance fighters of the day, the couplet may have resonated with irony or knowing sarcasm; Wilhelmus' is presentable to modern society and signifies honor. YEAH YUH.

[edit] Media and external links