Editing Wilhelmus

{{short description|National anthem of the Netherlands}}
{{about-distinguish2|the national anthem of the Netherlands|the grand ducal anthem of Luxembourg, ''[[De Wilhelmus]]''}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox anthem
| title         = {{lang|nl|Wilhelmus}}
| english_title = "William"
| image         = Handschrift Brussel p-37-38.jpg
| image_size    = 
| caption       = Early version of the ''Wilhelmus'' as preserved in a manuscript from 1617<ref>M. de Bruin, "Het Wilhelmus tijdens de Republiek", in: L.P. Grijp (ed.), ''Nationale hymnen. Het Wilhelmus en zijn buren. Volkskundig bulletin 24'' (1998), p. 16–42, 199–200; esp. p. 28 n. 65.</ref>
| prefix        = National
| country       = the [[Kingdom of the Netherlands|Netherlands]]
| composer      = Adapted by [[Adrianus Valerius]], composer of original unknown
| music_date    = 1568
| author        = Disputed
| lyrics_date   = between 1568 and 1572
| adopted       = {{Start date and age|1932|5|10|df=y}}<br/>1954 {{small|([[Netherlands Antilles]])}}
| until         = 1964 {{small|([[Netherlands Antilles]])}}
| predecessor   = "[[Wien Neêrlands Bloed]]"
| sound         = United States Navy Band - Het Wilhelmus (tempo corrected).ogg
| sound_title   = "Wilhelmus" (instrumental, one stanza)}}

"'''Wilhelmus van Nassouwe'''", known simply as "'''Wilhelmus'''",{{efn|{{langx|nl|Het Wilhelmus}}; {{IPA|nl|ɦɛt ʋɪlˈɦɛlmʏs|pron|Nl-Het Wilhelmus2.ogg}}; {{lit}} "The Wilhelmus"}} is the [[national anthem]] of both the [[Netherlands]] and its sovereign state, the [[Kingdom of the Netherlands]]. It dates back to at least 1572, making it the oldest national anthem in use today, provided that the latter is defined as consisting of both a melody and lyrics.<ref>J. Leerssen: National Thought in Europe: A Cultural History, Amsterdam University Press, 2020, p. 103.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.national-anthems.org/facts.htm|title=Facts About National Anthems|website=www.national-anthems.org}} The words of the Japanese anthem [[Kimigayo]] date from the 9th century.</ref> Although "Wilhelmus" was not recognized as the official [[national anthem]] until 1932, it has always been popular with parts of the Dutch population and resurfaced on several occasions in the course of Dutch history before gaining its present status.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://nationalanthems.me/netherlands-het-wilhelmus | title=Netherlands – Het Wilhelmus | publisher=NationalAnthems.me | access-date=21 November 2011}}</ref> It was also the anthem of the [[Netherlands Antilles]] from 1954 to 1964.

"Wilhelmus" originated in the [[Dutch Revolt]], the nation's struggle to achieve independence from the [[Spanish Empire]]. It tells of the [[Father of the Nation]] [[William the Silent|William of Orange]] who was [[Stadtholder|stadholder]] in the Netherlands under the [[Philip II of Spain|King of Spain]]. In the first person, as if quoting himself, William speaks to the Dutch about both the revolt and his own, personal struggle: to be faithful to the king,<ref name="uva.nl">{{cite web|url=http://cf.hum.uva.nl/dsp/ljc/geuzenliedboek/|title=Geuzenliedboek|website=cf.hum.uva.nl}}</ref> without being unfaithful to his conscience: to serve God and the Dutch. In the lyrics, William compares himself with the biblical [[David]] who serves under the tyrannical king [[Saul]]. As the merciful David defeats the unjust Saul and is rewarded by God with the [[Kingdom of Israel (united monarchy)|kingdom of Israel]], so too William hopes to be rewarded with a kingdom. Both "Wilhelmus" and the Dutch Revolt should be seen in the light of the 16th century [[Reformation]] in Europe
and the resulting persecution of [[Protestantism|Protestants]] by the [[Spanish Inquisition]] in the [[Low Countries]]. Militant music proved very useful not only in lampooning Roman clerks and repressive monarchs but also in generating class-transcending social cohesion. In successfully combining a [[Psalms|psalmic]] character with political relevancy, "Wilhelmus" stands as the pre-eminent example of the genre.<ref>{{cite book |last1=DeLapp |first1=Nevada Levi |title=The Reformed David(s) and the Question of Resistance to Tyranny: Reading the Bible in the 16th and 17th Centuries |date=2014 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing |isbn=978-0-567-65549-3 |page=87 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eqPvAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA87 |language=en}}</ref>

== Inception ==

=== Origins of melody ===
The melody of "Wilhelmus" was borrowed from a well-known [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] French song titled ''Autre chanson de la ville de Chartres assiégée par le prince de Condé''<ref>{{YouTube|sgECAmtABEM|"O la folle entreprise du Prince de Condé" (Wilhelmus van Nassau), c. 1568}}</ref>{{efn|Translated as "Another Song of the Town of [[Chartres]] Besieged by the Prince of Condé".}} (or ''Chartres'' in short). This song ridiculed the failed [[Siege of Chartres (1568)|Siege of Chartres]] in 1568 by the [[Huguenot]] (Protestant) [[Louis, Prince of Condé (1530–1569)|Prince de Condé]] during the [[French Wars of Religion]]. However, the triumphant contents of "Wilhelmus" differ greatly from the content of the original song, making it subversive at several levels. Thus, the Dutch Protestants had taken over an anti-Protestant song, and adapted it into propaganda for their own agenda. In that way, "Wilhelmus" was typical for its time: it was common practice in the 16th century for warring groups to steal each other's songs in order to [[Contrafactum|rewrite]] them.<ref name="uva.nl" />

Even though the melody stems from 1568, the first known written down version of it comes from 1574; at the time the anthem was sung at a much quicker pace.<ref>{{YouTube|0YgurxOm_e4|"Het Wilhelmus" (reconstruction)}}, in the pace of the 16th century version</ref> Dutch composer [[Adriaen Valerius]] recorded the current melody of "Wilhelmus" in his ''Nederlantsche Gedenck-clanck'' in 1626, slowing down the melody's pace, probably to allow it to be sung in churches.

[[File:Jacob spoel marnix van sint-aldegonde declaiming het wilhelmus to will.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|[[Philips of Marnix, Lord of Saint-Aldegonde|Philips of Marnix]] presents "Wilhelmus" to [[William the Silent]], by Jacob Spoel (ca&nbsp;1850).]]

=== Origins of lyrics ===
The origins of the lyrics are uncertain. "Wilhelmus" was first written some time between the start of the [[Eighty Years' War]] in April 1568 and the [[capture of Brielle]] on 1 April 1572.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://vimeo.com/167434114|title=Louis Peter Grijp-lezing 10 mei 2016|website=Vimeo|date=20 May 2016 |access-date=2016-08-13}}</ref> Soon after the anthem was finished, it was said that either former [[Antwerp]] mayor [[Philips of Marnix, Lord of Saint-Aldegonde|Philips of Marnix]] or the politician [[Dirck Coornhert]] wrote the lyrics. However, this is disputed as neither Marnix nor Coornhert ever mentioned that they had written the lyrics, even though the song was immensely popular in their time. "Wilhelmus" also has some odd [[rhyme]]s in it. In some cases the vowels of certain words were altered to allow them to rhyme with other words. Some see this as evidence that neither Marnix or Coornhert wrote the anthem, as they were both experienced poets when "Wilhelmus" was written, and it is said they would not have taken these small liberties. Hence some believe that the lyrics of the Dutch national anthem were the creation of someone who just wrote one poem for the occasion and then disappeared from history. A French translation of "Wilhelmus" appeared around 1582.<ref>J. te Winkel, [http://www.dbnl.org/tekst/wink002ontw02_01/wink002ontw02_01_0028.htm ''De ontwikkelingsgang der Nederlandsche letterkunde. Deel 2: Geschiedenis der Nederlandsche letterkunde van Middeleeuwen en Rederijkerstijd''] (Haarlem 1922), p. 491 n. 1. – via [[Digital Library for Dutch Literature]]</ref>

Recent [[stylometry|stylometric]] research has mentioned [[Pieter Datheen]] as a possible author of the text of the Dutch national anthem.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nu.nl/wetenschap/4259667/vermoedelijke-schrijver-wilhelmus-ontdekt.html|title=Schrijver Wilhelmus is te ontdekken met computeralgoritme|date=10 May 2016|language=nl-NL|access-date=2016-08-13}}</ref> By chance, Dutch and Flemish researchers ([[Meertens Institute]], [[Utrecht University]] and [[University of Antwerp]]) discovered a striking number of similarities between his style and the style of the national anthem.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.neerlandistiek.nl/2016/05/toevallig-op-petrus-datheen-stuiten/|title=Toevallig op Petrus Datheen stuiten|date=2016-05-11|language=nl-NL|access-date=2016-08-13}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.neerlandistiek.nl/2016/05/louis-peter-grijp-lezing-online/|title=Louis Peter Grijp-lezing online|date=2016-05-22|language=nl-NL|access-date=2016-08-13}}</ref>

== Structure and interpretation ==
{{see also|Theodiscus|Terminology of the Low Countries}}

The complete text comprises fifteen [[stanza]]s. The anthem is an [[acrostic]]: the first letters of the fifteen stanzas formed the name "Willem van Nassov" (''Nassov'' was a contemporary [[Dutch orthography|orthographic]] variant of ''Nassau''). In the current Dutch spelling the first words of the 12th and 13th stanzas begin with Z instead of S.

Like many of the songs of the period, it has a complex structure, composed around a thematic [[chiasmus]]: the text is symmetrical, in that verses one and 15 resemble one another in meaning, as do verses two and 14, three and 13, etc., until they converge in the 8th verse, the heart of the song: "Oh [[David]], thou soughtest shelter from King [[Saul]]'s tyranny. Even so I fled this welter", where the comparison is made not only between the biblical David and William of Orange as a merciful and just leader of the [[Dutch Revolt]], but also between the tyrant King Saul and the Spanish crown, and between the promised land of [[Israel]] granted by God to David, and a kingdom granted by God to William.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eqPvAwAAQBAJ|title=The Reformed David(s) and the Question of Resistance to Tyranny: Reading the Bible in the 16th and 17th Centuries|last=DeLapp|first=Nevada Levi|date=2014-08-28|publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing|isbn=9780567655493|pages=88–90|language=en}}</ref>

In the first person, as if quoting himself, William speaks about how his disagreement with his king troubles him; he tries to be faithful to his king,<ref name="uva.nl"/> but he is above all faithful to his conscience: to serve God and the Dutch people. Therefore, the last two lines of the first stanza indicate that the leader of the Dutch civil war against the [[Spanish Empire]], of which they were part, had no specific quarrel with king [[Philip II of Spain]], but rather with his emissaries in the [[Low Countries]], such as [[Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, 3rd Duke of Alba]]. This may have been because at the time (late 16th century) it was uncommon to doubt publicly the [[divine right of kings]], who were accountable to God alone.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eqPvAwAAQBAJ|title=The Reformed David(s) and the Question of Resistance to Tyranny: Reading the Bible in the 16th and 17th Centuries|last=DeLapp|first=Nevada Levi|date=2014-08-28|publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing|isbn=9780567655493|pages=155}}</ref> In 1581 the Netherlands nevertheless rejected the legitimacy of the king of Spain's rule over it in the [[Act of Abjuration]].

The word ''Duytschen'' in the first stanza, generally translated into English as 'Dutch', 'native' or 'Germanic', is a reference to William's roots; its modern Dutch equivalent, ''Duits'', exclusively means 'German', and while it may refer to William's ancestral house ([[Nassau, Germany]]) or to the lands of the [[Holy Roman Empire]] it is most probably a reference to an older meaning of the word, which can loosely be translated as 'Germanic', and seeks to position William as a person with a personal connection with the Low Countries as opposed to the king of Spain, Philip II, who was commonly portrayed as foreign, disconnected and out of touch. In doing so, William is also implicitly comparing himself with the well liked [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor|Charles V]] (Philip's father) who, unlike his son, was born in the Low Countries, spoke Dutch and visited the Low Countries more often than any other part of his realm.<ref>Emperor, a new life of Charles V, by Geoffrey Parker, p. 8.</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Emerging Mother-Tongue Awareness: The special case of Dutch and German in the Middle Ages and the early Modern Period, in: Standardisation: studies from the Germanic languages|last=DeGrauwe|first=Luc|year=2002|pages=99–116}}</ref><ref>Maria A. Schenkeveld, ''Dutch literature in the age of Rembrandt: themes and ideas'' (1991), 6</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Nationaal denken in Europa: een cultuurhistorische schets|last=Leerssen|first=J.|year=1999|pages=29}}</ref>

==Performance==
[[File:William I, Prince of Orange by Adriaen Thomasz. Key Rijksmuseum Amsterdam SK-A-3148.jpg|thumb|upright|[[William the Silent|William I]], leader of the [[Dutch Revolt]], by [[Adriaen Thomasz. Key]]]]

=== History ===
[[File:Het Wilhelmus (first recording 1899).ogg|thumb|right|First recording of the "Wilhelmus" in 1899]]
[[File:Henri Dons - Wilhelmus.ogg|thumb|right|Vocal rendition of the "Wilhelmus" in 1920]]
Though only proclaimed the national anthem in 1932, the "Wilhelmus" already had a centuries-old history. It had been sung on many official occasions and at many important events since the outbreak of the [[Dutch Revolt]] in 1568, such as the [[siege of Haarlem]] in 1573 and the ceremonial entry of the [[Prince of Orange]] into [[Brussels]] on 18 September 1578.

It has been claimed that during the gruesome torture of [[Balthasar Gérard]] (the assassin of [[William the Silent|William of Orange]]) in 1584, the song was sung by the guards who sought to overpower Gérard's screams when boiling pigs' fat was poured over him. Gérard allegedly responded "Sing! Dutch sinners! Sing! But know that soon I shall be sung of!".<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=http://www.cubra.nl/wilhelmusvannassouwe/wilhelmusvannassouwetheovandoornstructuur.htm|title=Het Wilhelmus, analyse van de inhoud, de structuur en de boodschap.|last=van Doorn|first=T. H.|website=www.cubra.nl|access-date=2016-08-14|archive-date=28 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171028073305/http://www.cubra.nl/wilhelmusvannassouwe/wilhelmusvannassouwetheovandoornstructuur.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Another legend claims that following the [[Navigation Acts|Navigation Act 1651]] (an ordinance by [[Oliver Cromwell]] requiring all foreign fleets in the [[North Sea]] or the [[English Channel|Channel]] to dip their flag in salute) the "Wilhelmus" was sung (or rather, shouted) by the sailors on the Dutch flagship ''[[Dutch ship Brederode (1644)|Brederode]]'' in response to the first warning shot fired by an English fleet under [[Robert Blake (admiral)|Robert Blake]], when their captain [[Maarten Tromp]] refused to lower his flag. At the end of the song, which coincided with the third and last English warning shot, Tromp fired a full broadside, thereby beginning the [[Battle of Dover (1652)|Battle of Goodwin Sands]] and the [[First Anglo-Dutch War]].<ref name="auto" />

During the [[Dutch Golden Age]], it was conceived essentially as the anthem of the [[House of Orange-Nassau]] and its [[Orangism (Dutch Republic)|supporters]] – which meant, in the politics of the time, the anthem of a specific political faction which was involved in a prolonged struggle with opposing factions (which sometimes became violent, verging on civil war). Therefore, the fortunes of the song paralleled those of the Orangist faction. [[Trumpet]]s played the "Wilhelmus" when [[Maurice, Prince of Orange|Prince Maurits]] 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 are said to have played the "Wilhelmus" continuously. After the [[Batavian Revolution]], inspired by the [[French Revolution]], it had come to be called the "Princes' March" as it was banned during the rule of the [[Patriottentijd|Patriots]], who did not support the [[House of Orange-Nassau]].

However, at the foundation of the [[Sovereign Principality of the United Netherlands]], forerunner of the current Dutch state, in 1813, the "Wilhelmus" had fallen out of favour. The newly installed prince, William Frederick (the future King [[William I of the Netherlands|William
i]], son of William V, had completed his family's quest to unite the Low Countries. Now a  monarch with a claim to represent the entire nation and stand above factions, he decided to break with the song which served the House of Orange as heads of a faction, and the "Wilhelmus" was replaced by [[Hendrik Tollens]]' song "[[Wien Neêrlands Bloed]]", which was the official Dutch anthem from 1815 until 1932. However, the "Wilhelmus" remained popular and lost its identification as a factional song, and 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 – thereby replacing Tollens' song.

"Wilhelmus" was also translated into [[Malay language|Malay]], of which was sung back when [[Dutch East Indies|Indonesia was under Dutch colonial rule]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://kumparan.com/potongan-nostalgia/lagu-wilhelmus-dan-nasionalisme-yang-dipaksakan-di-hindia-belanda/full|title = Lagu Wilhelmus dan Nasionalisme yang Dipaksakan di Hindia Belanda}}</ref> with the following lyrics:

<blockquote><poem style="font-style:italic;">Selamat bagi Ratu yang maha mulia
Aman dan sentosa di atas takhtanya
Umur dan usia dilanjutkan Allah
Rezeki murah lipat berganda-ganda

Bulan yang kedelapan diinilah waktu
Tiga puluh satu bilangan tertentu
Hari lahir Baginda Putri Ratu
Mengucapkan selamat kami sekutu </poem></blockquote>

During the [[Netherlands in World War II#German occupation|German occupation of the Netherlands]], [[Arthur Seyss-Inquart]], the Nazi ''Reichskommissar'', banned all the emblems of the Dutch royal family, including the "Wilhelmus". It was then taken up by all factions of the [[Dutch resistance]], even those socialists who had previously taken an anti-monarchist stance. The pro-German [[National Socialist Movement in the Netherlands|Nationaal-Socialistische Beweging]] (NSB), who had sung the "Wilhelmus" at their meetings before the occupation, replaced it with "Alle Man van Neerlands Stam" ("All Men of Dutch Origin").<ref>Dewulf, Jeroen (2010), [https://books.google.com/books?id=nUQmsfyctPcC&dq=Wilhelmus+and+resistance&pg=PA115 ''Spirit of Resistance: Dutch Clandestine Literature During the Nazi Occupation''], Camden House, New York {{ISBN|978-1-57113-493-6}} (p. 115)</ref> The anthem was drawn to the attention of the English-speaking world by the 1942 British [[war film]] ''[[One of Our Aircraft Is Missing]]''. The film concerns a [[Royal Air Force]] bomber crew who are shot down over the occupied Netherlands and are helped to escape by the local inhabitants. The melody is heard during the film as part of the campaign of [[passive resistance]] by the population, and it finishes with the [[coat of arms of the Netherlands]] on screen while the "Wilhelmus" is played.<ref>Furhammar, Leif and Isaksson, Folke (1971), [https://books.google.com/books?id=OW9ZAAAAMAAJ&q=%22one+of+our+aircraft+is+missing%22+dutch+national+anthem ''Politics and film''], Praeger Publishers, New York (p. 81)</ref>

=== Current ===
[[File:Wilhelmus bladmuziek.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|First stanza of the "Wilhelmus"]]
The "Wilhelmus" is to be played only once at a ceremony or other event and, if possible, it is to be the last piece of music to be played when receiving a foreign [[head of state]] or emissary.

During international sport events, such as the [[FIFA World Cup|World Cup]], [[UEFA European Football Championship]], the [[Olympic Games]] and the [[Dutch Grand Prix]], the "Wilhelmus" is also played. In nearly every case the 1st and 6th stanzas (or repeating the last lines), or the 1st stanza alone, are sung/played rather than the entire song, which would result in about 15 minutes of music.<ref>Each of the 15 stanzas lasts 56 seconds, and the last stanza has a [[ritenuto]].</ref>

The "Wilhelmus" is also widely used in [[Flemish Movement|Flemish nationalist]] gatherings as a symbol of cultural unity with the Netherlands. Yearly rallies like the "[[IJzerbedevaart]]" and the "Vlaams Nationaal Zangfeest" close with singing the 6th stanza, after which the Flemish national anthem "[[De Vlaamse Leeuw]]" is sung.

==Variations==
An important set of variations on the melody of "Wilhelmus van Nassouwe" is that by the blind [[carillon]]-player [[Jacob van Eyck]] in his mid-17th century collection of variations ''Der Fluyten Lust-hof''.<ref name=eyck>{{cite book|editor1-last=Michel|editor1-first=Winfried|editor2=Hermien Teske|title=Jacob van Eyck (ca. 1590–1657): Der Fluyten Lust-hof|year=1984|publisher=Amadeus Verlag – Bernhard Päuler|location=Winterthur}}</ref>

The [[royal anthem]] of [[Luxembourg]] (called "[[De Wilhelmus]]") is a variation on the "Wilhelmus". The melody was first used in Luxembourg (at the time in [[personal union]] with the [[Kingdom of the United Netherlands]]) on the occasion of the visit of the Dutch King and [[Grand Duke of Luxembourg]] William III in 1883. Later, the anthem was played for [[Adolphe, Grand Duke of Luxembourg|Grand Duke Adolph of Luxembourg]] along with [[Ons Heemecht|their national anthem]]. The melody is similar, but not identical to that of the "Wilhelmus"; it has been in official use since 1919.

The song „[[Wenn alle untreu werden]]“ ("When All Become Unfaithful"), better known as „Das Treuelied“, written by the poet [[Max von Schenkendorf]], used exactly the same melody as the "Wilhelmus".{{Citation needed|date=October 2022|reason=The melody of "Wenn alle untreu werden" comes from the French song ''Pour aller à la chasse faut être matineux'' and not from the "Wilhelmus".}} After [[World War I]], this song became popular among [[German nationalism|German nationalist]] groups. It became one of the most popular songs of the [[Schutzstaffel|SS]], together with the „[[Horst-Wessel-Lied]]“.

The melody is also used in the [[Swedish language|Swedish]] [[folk song]] "{{ill|Ack, Göta konungarike|sv}}" ("Alas, [[Götaland|Gothic Kingdom]]"), written in 1626, which deals with the liberation struggle of [[Sweden]] under [[Gustav Vasa]] during the 16th century.

==Lyrics==
{{Listen|type=music|filename=Wilhelmus koor.oga|title=The "Wilhelmus"|description=Choir accompanied by an organ sings the first and sixth stanza}}

The "Wilhelmus" was first printed in a {{lang|nl|geuzenliedboek}} ({{lit}} '[[Geuzen|Beggars']] songbook') in 1581. It used the following text as an introduction to the "Wilhelmus":'<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nederlandse Liederenbank |url=https://www.liederenbank.nl/text.php?recordid=506665&lan=nl |access-date=2025-03-05 |website=www.liederenbank.nl}}</ref>
:{| class="wikitable"
|{{lang|nl|italic=no|Een nieuw Christelick Liedt gemaect ter eeren des Doorluchtichsten Heeren, Heere Wilhelm Prince van Oraengien, Grave van Nassou, Patris Patriae, mijnen Genaedigen Forsten ende Heeren. Waer van deerste Capitael letteren van elck veers syner Genaedigen Forstens name metbrengen. Na de wijse van Chartres.}}
|A new Christian song made in the honour of the most noble lord, lord William Prince of Orange, count of Nassau, [[Pater Patriae]] ([[Father of the Nation]]), my merciful prince and lord. [A song] of which the first capital letter of each stanza form the name of his merciful prince. To the melody of Chartres.
|}

The original text contains 15 stanzas and is written in the form of an [[acrostic]]; the first letter in each of the following stanzas, highlighted in '''bold''' below, spell out ''William of Nassau''.

<div style="overflow-x:auto;">
{|
!Original Dutch (1568)<br>{{small|{{lang|nl|italic=no|'''WILLEM VAN NASSOV'''}}}}
!Contemporary Dutch<br>{{small|{{lang|nl|italic=no|'''WILLEM VAN NAZZOV'''}}}}
![[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]] transcription{{efn|See [[Help:IPA/Dutch]] and [[Dutch phonology]].}}
![[English language|English]] translation<ref>[https://www.royal-house.nl/topics/national-anthem/music-lyrics-and-customs "Wilhelmus" music, lyrics and customs], Royal House of the Netherlands</ref><!-- Please do not change the text without consulting the source first. --><br>{{small|'''WILLIAM OF NASSAU'''}}
|- style="valign:top;white-space:nowrap;text-align:center;font-size:90%;"
|<poem lang="nl">{{lang|nl|italic=no|'''W'''ilhelmus van Nassouwe
Ben ick van Duytschen bloet
Den Vaderlant getrouwe
Blyf ick tot in den doet:
Een Prince van Oraengien
Ben ick vrij onverveert,
Den Coninck van Hispaengien
Heb ick altijt gheeert.

'''I'''n 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.

'''L'''ydt 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.

'''L'''yf 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.

'''E'''del 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.

'''M'''ijn 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.

'''V'''an 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.

'''A'''ls 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.

'''N'''a 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.

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

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

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

'''S'''eer Christlick 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.

'''O'''orlof 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.

'''V'''oor 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.}}</poem>
|<poem lang="nl">{{lang|nl|italic=no|'''W'''ilhelmus 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.

'''I'''n 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.

'''L'''ijdt 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 wil geven,
dat ik u helpen mag.

'''L'''ijf 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 de slag,
zijn ziel in 't eeuwig leven
verwacht de jongste dag.

'''E'''del en hooggeboren,
van keizerlijke stam,
een vorst des rijks verkoren,
als een vroom christenman,
voor Godes woord geprezen,
heb ik, vrij onversaagd,
als een held zonder vreze
mijn edel bloed gewaagd.

'''M'''ijn 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.

'''V'''an al die mij bezwaren
en mijn vervolgers zijn,
mijn God, wil doch bewaren
de trouwe dienaar dijn,
dat zij mij niet verrassen
in hunne boze moed,
hun handen niet en wassen
in mijn onschuldig bloed.

'''A'''ls 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.

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

'''N'''iets doet mij meer erbarmen
in mijne 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.

'''A'''ls een prins opgezeten
met mijner heireskracht,
van de tiran vermeten
heb ik de slag verwacht,
die, bij Maastricht begraven,
bevreesden mijn geweld;
mijn ruiters zag men draven
zeer moedig door dat veld.

'''Z'''o het de wil des Heren
op die tijd was 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,
Hij heeft het niet begeerd.

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

'''O'''orlof, mijn arme schapen
die zijt in grote 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.

'''V'''oor God wil ik belijden
en zijne grote macht,
dat ik tot gene tijden
de Koning heb veracht,
dan dat ik God de Here,
de hoogste Majesteit,
heb moeten obediëren
in de gerechtigheid.}}</poem>
|<poem>{{IPA|['''ʋ'''ɪɫ.ˈɦɛɫ.mʏs̠ vɑn nɑ.ˈs̠ɑu̯.ə]
[bɛn ɪk vɑn ˈdœy̑t.s̠ən blut]
[dɛn ˈvaː.dər.ˌlɑnt ɣə.ˈtrɑu̯.ə]
[blɛi̯v ɪk tɔt ɪn dɛn doːt]
[ən ˈprɪn.s̠ə vɑn ˌoː.ˈrɑn.jə]
[bɛn ɪk frɛi̯ ˌɔɱ.vər.ˈveːrt]
[dɛn ˈkoː.nɪŋ vɑn ɦɪ.ˈs̠pɑn.jə]
[ɦɛp ɪk ˈɑɫ.tɛi̯t ɣə.ˈeːrt]

['''ɪ'''n ˈɣɔ.dəs̠ vreːs̠ tə ˈleː.vən]
[ɦɛp ɪk ˈɑɫ.tɛi̯t bə.ˈtrɑxt]
[daːr.ˈɔm bɛn ɪk vər.ˈdreː.vən]
[ɔm lɑnt ɔm lœy̑t ɣə.ˈbrɑxt]
[maːr ɣɔt z̠ɑɫ mɛi̯ rə.ˈɣeː.rən]
[ɑɫs̠ eːn ɣut ˌɪn.s̠try.ˈmɛnt]
[dɑt ɪk z̠ɑɫ ˌʋeː.dər.ˈkeː.rən]
[ɪn ˈmɛi̯.nən ˌreː.ʒi.ˈmɛnt]

['''l'''ɛi̯t y mɛi̯n ˌɔn.dər.ˈz̠aː.tən]
[di ɔ.ˈprɛxt z̠ɛi̯t vɑn aːrt]
[ɣɔt z̠ɑɫ y nit vər.ˈlaː.tən]
[ɑɫ z̠ɛi̯t ɣɛi̯ nʏ bə.ˈz̠ʋaːrt]
[di vroːm bə.ˈɣeːrt tə ˈleː.vən]
[bɪt ɣɔt nɑxt ˈɛn.də dɑx]
[dɑt ɦɛi̯ mɛi̯ krɑxt ʋɪɫ ˈɣeː.vən]
[dɑt ɪk y ˈɦɛɫ.pən mɑx]

['''l'''ɛi̯v ən ɣut ɑɫ tə ˈs̠aː.mən]
[ɦɛp ɪk y nit vər.ˈs̠xoːnt]
[mɛi̯n ˈbru.dərs̠ ɦoːx vɑn ˈnaː.mən]
[ˈɦɛ.bən t‿y oːk vər.ˈtoːnt]
[ɣraːv ˈaː.dɔɫf ɪs̠ ɣə.ˈbleː.vən]
[ɪn ˈfris̠.lɑnt ɪn də s̠lɑx]
[z̠ɛi̯n z̠iɫ ɪn t‿ˈeːu̯.əx ˈleː.vən]
[vər.ˈʋɑxt də ˈjɔŋ.s̠tə dɑx]

[ˈ'''e'''ː.dəɫ ən ˌɦoː.ɣə.ˈboː.rən]
[vɑn ˈkɛi̯.z̠ər.lə.kə s̠tɑm]
[ən vɔrs̠t dɛs̠ rɛi̯ks̠ vər.ˈkɔ.rən]
[ɑɫs̠ ən vroːm ˈkrɪs̠.tən.mɑn]
[voːr ˈɣɔ.dəs̠ ʋoːrt ɣə.ˈpreː.z̠ən]
[ɦɛp ɪk vrɛi̯ ˌɔɱ.vər.ˈs̠aːxt]
[ɑɫs̠ ən ɦɛɫt ˈz̠ɔn.dər ˈvreː.z̠ə]
[mɛi̯n ˈeː.dəɫ blut ɣə.ˈʋaːxt]

['''m'''ɛi̯n s̠xɪɫt ˈɛn.də bə.ˈtrɑu̯.ən]
[ˈz̠ɛi̯t ɣɛi̯ oː ɣɔt mɛi̯n ɦeːr]
[ɔp y z̠oː ʋɪɫ ɪk ˈbɑu̯.ən]
[vər.ˈlaːt mɛi̯ ˌnɪ.mər.ˈmeːr]
[dɑt ɪk dɔx froːm mɑɣ ˈblɛi̯.vən]
[yu̯ ˈdi.naːr ˈt‿ɑ.lər s̠tɔnt]
[də ˌti.rɑ.ˈni vər.ˈdrɛi̯.vən]
[di mɛi̯ mɛi̯n ɦɑrt ˈdoːr.ʋɔnt]

['''v'''ɑn ɑɫ di mɛi̯ bə.ˈz̠ʋaː.rən]
[ɛn mɛi̯n vər.ˈvɔɫ.gərs̠ z̠ɛi̯n]
[mɛi̯n ɣɔt ʋɪɫ dɔx bə.ˈʋaː.rən]
[də ˈtrɑu̯.ə ˈdi.naːr dɛi̯n]
[dɑt z̠ɛi̯ mɛi̯ nit və.ˈrɑ.s̠ən]
[ɪn ˈɦʏ.nə ˈboː.z̠ə mut]
[ˈɦʏn ˈɦɑn.dən nit ɛn ˈʋɑ.s̠ən]
[ɪn mɛi̯n ˌɔn.ˈs̠xʏɫ.dəx blut]

['''ɑ'''ɫs̠ ˈdaː.vɪt ˈmu.s̠tə ˈvlʏx.tən]
[voːr ˈs̠ɑu̯.əɫ dɛn ti.ˈrɑn]
[z̠oː ɦɛp ɪk ˈmu.tən ˈz̠ʏx.tən]
[ɑɫs̠ ˈmeː.nəx ˈeː.dəɫ.ˌmɑn]
[maːr ɣɔt ɦeːft ɦɛm vər.ˈɦeː.vən]
[vər.ˈlɔs̠t œy̑t ˈɑɫ.dər noːt]
[ən ˈkoː.nɪŋ.ˌkrɛi̯k ɣə.ˈɣeː.vən]
[ɪn ˈɪs̠.raː.ˌɛɫ z̠eːr ɣroːt]

['''n'''aː‿t z̠yːr z̠ɑɫ ɪk ɔnt.ˈfɑŋ.ən]
[vɑn ɣɔt mɛi̯n ɦeːr ɦɛt z̠ut]
[ˈdaːr.ˌnaːr z̠oː dut vər.ˈlɑŋ.ən]
[mɛi̯n ˈvɔr.s̠tə.lək ɣə.ˈmut]
[dɑt ɪs̠ dɑt ɪk mɑx ˈs̠tɛr.vən]
[mɛt ˈeː.rə ɪn dɑt vɛɫt]
[ən ˈeːu̯.əx rɛi̯k vər.ˈʋɛr.vən]
[ɑɫs̠ ən ɣə.ˈtrɑu̯.ə ɦɛɫt]

['''n'''its̠ dut mɛi̯ meːr ɛr.ˈbɑr.mən]
[ɪn ˈmɛi̯.nə ˈʋeː.dər.ˌs̠put]
[dɑn dɑt mɛn z̠it vər.ˈɑr.mən]
[dɛs̠ ˈkoː.nɪŋs̠ ˈlɑn.dən ɣut]
[dɑt y də ˈs̠pɑn.jaːrts̠ ˈkrɛŋ.kən]
[oː ˈeː.dəɫ ˈneːr.ˌlɑnt z̠ut]
[ɑɫs̠ ɪk ˈdaːr.ˌaːn ɣə.ˈdɛŋ.kə]
[mɛi̯n ˈeː.dəɫ ɦɑrt dɑt blut]

['''ɑ'''ɫs̠ ən prɪns̠ ˈɔp.ɣə.ˌz̠eː.tən]
[mɛt ˈmɛi̯.nər ˈɦɛi̯.rəs̠.ˌkrɑxt]
[vɑn də ti.ˈrɑn vər.ˈmeː.tən]
[ɦɛp ɪk də s̠lɑx vər.ˈʋɑxt]
[di bɛi̯ maː.ˈs̠trɪxt bə.ˈɣraː.vən]
[bə.ˈvreːz̠.dən mɛi̯n ɣə.ˈʋɛɫt]
[mɛi̯n ˈrœy̑.tərs̠ z̠ɑx mɛn ˈdraː.vən]
[z̠eːr ˈmu.dəɣ doːr dɑt vɛɫt]

['''z̠'''oː ɦɛt də ʋɪɫ dɛs̠ ˈɦeː.rən]
[ɔp di tɛi̯t ʋɑs̠ ɣə.ˈʋeːs̠t]
[ɦɑt ɪk ɣeːrn ˈʋɪ.lən ˈkeː.rən]
[vɑn y dɪt z̠ʋaːr tɛm.ˈpeːs̠t]
[maːr də ɦeːr vɑn ˌɦiːr.ˈboː.vən]
[di ˈɑ.lə dɪŋ rə.ˈɣeːrt]
[di mɛn ˈɑɫ.tɛi̯t mut ˈloː.vən]
[ɦɛi̯ ɦeːft ɦɛt nit bə.ˈɣeːrt]

['''z̠'''eːr ˈkrɪs̠t.lək ʋɑs̠ ɣə.ˈdreː.vən]
[mɛi̯n ˈprɪn.s̠ə.lək ɣə.ˈmut]
[ˌs̠tɑnd.ˈvɑs̠.təx ɪs̠ ɣə.ˈbleː.vən]
[mɛi̯n ɦɑrt ɪn ˈteː.ɣən.ˌs̠put]
[də ɦeːr ɦɛp ɪk ɣə.ˈbeː.dən]
[œy̑t ˈmɛi̯.nəs̠ ˈɦɑr.tən ˈɣrɔnt]
[dɑt ɦɛi̯ mɛi̯n z̠aːk ʋɪɫ ˈrɛ.dən]
[mɛi̯n ˈɔn.s̠xʏɫt ˈmaː.kən kɔnt]

[ˈ'''o'''ːr.lɔf mɛi̯n ˈɑr.mə ˈs̠xaː.pən]
[di z̠ɛi̯t ɪn ˈɣroː.tə noːt]
[yu̯ ˈɦɛr.dər z̠ɑɫ nit ˈs̠laː.pən]
[ɑɫ z̠ɛi̯t ɣɛi̯ ny vər.ˈs̠troːi̯t]
[tɔt ɣɔt ʋɪɫt y bə.ˈɣeː.vən]
[z̠ɛi̯n ˈɦɛi̯ɫ.z̠aːm ʋoːrt neːmt aːn]
[ɑɫs̠ ˈvroː.mə ˈkrɪs̠.tən ˈleː.vən]
[t‿z̠ɑɫ ɦiːr ɦaːs̠t z̠ɛi̯n ɣə.ˈdaːn]

['''v'''oːr ɣɔt ʋɪɫ ɪk bə.ˈlɛi̯.dən]
[ɛn ˈz̠ɛi̯.nə ˈɣroː.tə mɑxt]
[dɑt ɪk tɔt ˈɣeː.nə ˈtɛi̯.dən]
[də ˈkoː.nɪŋ ɦɛb vər.ˈɑxt]
[dɑn dɑt ɪk ɣɔd də ˈɦeː.rə]
[də ˈɦoːx.s̠tə maː.jəs̠.ˈtɛi̯t]
[ɦɛp ˈmu.tən ˌoː.bə.di.ˈeː.rən
[ɪn də ɣə.ˈrɛx.təx.ɦɛi̯t]}}</poem>
|<poem>'''W'''illiam 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'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>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.

'''L'''et 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.

'''L'''ife 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''', 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''' 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.

'''M'''y 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.

'''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.

'''F'''ear 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.

'''N'''othing 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.

'''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.

'''S'''urely, 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.

'''S'''teadfast 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.

'''A'''las! 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 Jesu
This life will not endure.

'''U'''nto 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.</poem>
|}
</div>

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{wikisourcelang|en|Translation:Het Wilhelmus|Het Wilhelmus}}
* {{commons category-inline|Wilhelmus}}

{{Netherlands topics}}
{{National Anthems of Europe}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:National anthems]]
[[Category:Eighty Years' War (1566–1609)]]
[[Category:Dutch anthems]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of William the Silent]]
[[Category:Songs about politicians]]
[[Category:Songs about military officers]]
[[Category:Compositions in A major]]
[[Category:Royal anthems]]