The Brabançonne

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The Brabançonne (Song of Brabant) is the national anthem of Belgium. The anthem has a Dutch, a French and a German version, for the three major languages of the country.

Contents 1 History 2 Trivia 3 Lyrics 3.1 Official French-language text 3.2 Official Dutch-language text 3.3 Official German-language text 3.4 Unofficial translation of the French lyrics 3.5 Unofficial translation of the Dutch lyrics 3.6 Unofficial translation of the German lyrics 4 See also

[edit] History

According to legend, the Belgian national anthem was written in September 1830, during the Belgian Revolution, by a young revolutionary called Jenneval, who read the lyrics during a meeting at the Aigle d'Or café.

Jenneval, a Frenchman whose real name was Alexandre Dechet (sometimes known as Louis-Alexandre Dechet), did in fact write the Brabançonne. He was at the time an actor at the theatre where, in August 1830, the revolution started which led to independence from the Netherlands. Jenneval died in the war of independence. François Van Campenhout composed the accompanying score and it was first performed in September 1830.

In 1860, Belgium formally adopted the song and music as its national anthem, although the prime minister at the time edited lyrics attacking the Dutch Prince of Orange.

[edit] Trivia

The Brabançonne is not only the name of the Belgian national anthem, it is also a monument (1930) by the sculptor Charles Samuël on the Surlet de Chokier square in Brussels. The monument contains the partial lyrics of both the French and Dutch versions of the anthem. As many elements in Belgian folklorism, this is mainly based on the French La Marseillaise which is also not only an anthem but also the name of a monument in Paris.

[edit] Lyrics

[edit] Official French-language text

Noble Belgique, à jamais terre chérie,

À toi nos cœurs, à toi nos bras,

Par le sang pur répandu pour toi, Patrie!

Nous le jurons d'un seul cri: 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! (2x)

La Liberté

[edit] Official Dutch-language text

O dierbaar België, O heilig land der Vad'ren,

Onze ziel en ons hart zijn u gewijd.

Aanvaard ons kracht en bloed van ons ad'ren,

Wees ons doel in arbeid en in strijd.

Bloei, o land, in eendracht niet te breken;

Wees immer uzelf en ongeknecht,

Het woord getrouw, dat g' onbevreesd moogt spreken,

Voor Vorst, voor Vrijheid en voor Recht. :|

Voor Vorst, voor Vrijheid en voor Recht. (2x)

[edit] Official German-language text

O liebes Land, o Belgiens Erde,

Dir unser Herz, Dir unsere Hand,

Dir unser Blut, dem Heimatherde,

wir schworen's Dir, o Vaterland!

So blühe froh in voller Schöne,

zu der die Freiheit Dich erzog,

und fortan singen Deine Söhne:

"Gesetz und König und die Freiheit hoch!"

[edit] Unofficial translation of the French lyrics

Noble Belgium, forever beloved land,

Thine our hearts, thine our arms,

By the pure blood shed for you Fatherland!

We swear it in a single shout: thou shalt live!

Thou shalt live, ever great and beautiful

And thy invincible unity

Shall have for everlasting motto:

The King, the Law, Liberty! (3x)

[edit] Unofficial translation of the Dutch lyrics

O beloved Belgium, O holy land of our Fathers

Our souls and hearts to thee are consecrated.

Accept our strength and the blood of our veins,

Be our purpose in work and struggle.

Prosper, O country, in harmony unbreakable;

Be forever thyself and never servile,

True to the word that thou shouldst fearlessly declare:

For King, for Freedom, and for Justice.

[edit] Unofficial translation of the German lyrics

O dear land, O Belgium's earth

To you our heart, to you our hand

To you our blood, the fires of home

We swear to you, O fatherland.

So bloom joyfully in the full beauty

To which liberty has brought you up

And henceforth your sons will sing -

Up Law and King and Liberty!

[edit] See also

• De Vlaamse Leeuw
• Le Chant des Wallons