Wien Neerlands Bloed
Encyclopedia
Wien Neêrlands bloed was the national anthem
National anthem
A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a nation's government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people.- History :Anthems rose to prominence...

 of the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...

 between 1815 and 1932.

At the foundation of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
United Kingdom of the Netherlands
United Kingdom of the Netherlands is the unofficial name used to refer to Kingdom of the Netherlands during the period after it was first created from part of the First French Empire and before the new kingdom of Belgium split out in 1830...

 in 1815, it was decided that a national anthem was needed. The hymn Het Wilhelmus – which is the national anthem today – was already well known in the time of the Dutch Republic
Dutch Republic
The Dutch Republic — officially known as the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands , the Republic of the United Netherlands, or the Republic of the Seven United Provinces — was a republic in Europe existing from 1581 to 1795, preceding the Batavian Republic and ultimately...

. At that time, however, it was more of a party or faction hymn than a national one, being associated with and glorifying the House of Orange – which in the politics of the 17th and 18th Netherlands had enthusiastic supporters but also bitter foes. In particular, the Wilhelmus was unpopular with the anti-Orangist Patriot party
Patriots (faction)
The Patriots were a political faction in the Dutch Republic in the second half of the 18th century. They were led by Joan van der Capellen tot den Pol, gaining power from November 1782....

, which dominated the country (under French tutelage) for a considerable time.

Following the fall of Napoleon, with the House of Orange attaining the status of Monarchs which they lacked before, they desired to make a fresh start and adopt a politically neutral hymn rather than what had been their factional song. Moreover, a new song might also be acceptable to the Catholic inhabitants of the Southern Netherlands
Southern Netherlands
Southern Netherlands were a part of the Low Countries controlled by Spain , Austria and annexed by France...

 with which the Dutch were united in 1815 to form the United Kingdom of the Netherlands
United Kingdom of the Netherlands
United Kingdom of the Netherlands is the unofficial name used to refer to Kingdom of the Netherlands during the period after it was first created from part of the First French Empire and before the new kingdom of Belgium split out in 1830...

; the Wilhelmus might be interpreted as expressing Calvinist sentiments.

A competition was accordingly organized by Admiral Jan Hendrik van Kinsbergen
Jan Hendrik van Kinsbergen
Jan Hendrik van Kinsbergen , or Count of Doggersbank, was a Dutch naval officer. Having had a good scientific education, Van Kinbergen was a proponent of fleet modernization and wrote many books about naval organization, discipline and tactics.In 1773, he twice defeated an Ottoman fleet while in...

 which was won by the Dutch poet Hendrik Tollens
Hendrik Tollens
Henricus Franciscus Caroluszoon Tollens was a Dutch poet best known for Wien Neêrlands Bloed, the national anthem of the Netherlands between 1815 and 1932....

 (1780–1856) with his poem Wien Neerlandsch bloed …, which, after some failed attempts by less gifted composers, was set to music by Johann Wilhelm Wilms
Johann Wilhelm Wilms
Johann Wilhelm Wilms was a Dutch-German composer, best known for writing Wien Neêrlands Bloed, which served as the Dutch national anthem from 1815 to 1932....

 (1772–1847), a German expatriate living in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...

.

There were two versions, both shown below. The first is the original one, the second a changed version created for the reign of Queen Wilhelmina; it modernised the language, adapted the text to the fact there was now a queen instead of a king and also replaced the controversial second line van vreemde smetten vrij ("free from foreign taint").

Despite the adoption of the new anthem Het Wilhelmus remained popular and was played at the investiture of Queen Wilhelmina
Wilhelmina of the Netherlands
Wilhelmina was Queen regnant of the Kingdom of the Netherlands from 1890 to 1948. She ruled the Netherlands for fifty-eight years, longer than any other Dutch monarch. Her reign saw World War I and World War II, the economic crisis of 1933, and the decline of the Netherlands as a major colonial...

 in 1898.

Wien Neêrlands bloed was officially replaced by Het Wilhelmus on 10 May 1932, though it remained in use by the Royal Netherlands Navy
Royal Netherlands Navy
The Koninklijke Marine is the navy of the Netherlands. In the mid-17th century the Dutch Navy was the most powerful navy in the world and it played an active role in the wars of the Dutch Republic and later those of the Batavian Republic and the Kingdom of the Netherlands...

 and Army
Royal Netherlands Army
The Royal Netherlands Army is the land forces element of the military of the Netherlands.-Short history:The Royal Netherlands Army was raised on 9 January 1814, but its origins date back to 1572, when the so-called Staatse Leger was raised...

 until 1939. The replacement had much to do with the fact the "new" 1815 anthem had become even more controversial than the Wilhelmus had been, with Socialists refusing to sing it.

Original version

English Translation

The changed version

English Translation

Official Versions

The national anthem had two official versions. The original version which was in use from 1815 to 1898 was written to honor a king. The second version which was in use from 1898 to 1932 was rewritten and used to honor Queen Wilhelmina
Queen Wilhelmina
Queen Wilhelmina may refer to:*Wilhelmine of Prussia , Queen consort of the Netherlands 1815–1837*Wilhelmina of the Netherlands, Queen of the Netherlands 1890–1948...

.

Version used from 1815-1898

Wien Neêrlands bloed in d’aders vloeit

    Van vreemde smetten vrij

Wiens hart voor land en koning gloeit

    Verheff’ de zang als wij:

Hij zet met ons, vereend van zin

    Met onbeklemde borst

Het godgevallig feestlied in

    Voor vaderland en vorst (2x)

De Godheid, op haar hemeltroon

    Bezongen en vereerd

Houdt gunstig ook naar onze toon

    Het heilig oor gekeerd:

Zij geeft het eerst, na ’t zalig koor

    Dat hoger snaren spant

Het rond en hartig lied gehoor

    Voor vorst en vaderland (2x)

Dring’ luid, vanuit ons feestgedruis

    Die beê den hemel in:

Bewaar de vorst, bewaar zijn huis

    En ons, zijn huisgezin

Doe nog ons laatst, ons jongst gezang

    Die eigen wens gestand:

Bewaar, o God den koning lang

    En ’t lieve vaderland (2x)

English Translation

Whoever has Dutch blood flowing in their veins,

    Free of foreign blemishes;

Whose heart glows for king and country,

    Rejoice in song as we do!

He sings with us, united in purpose,

    At the top of his voice

This festive song, pleasing to God,

    For fatherland and king (2x)

The divinity on her heavenly throne

    Serenaded and honoured

Favourably disposed to our sound

    Keeps the holy ear turned:

She sings first-rate, in conjunction with the heavenly choir

    Operating on a higher plain

This full and hearty song

    For King and fatherland (2x)

Pervade loudly, from within our festive roar

    This prayer unto heaven

Protect the monarch, protect his House

    And us, his family

Redeem your promise with the very same wish in our latest song

    Protect, oh Lord, for ever the King

And the beloved fatherland (2x)

Version used from 1898-1932

Wien Neêrlands bloed in de aadren vloeit

    Wien ’t hart klopt fier en vrij

Wie voor zijn volk van liefde gloeit

    Verheff’ de zang als wij:

Hij roem’ met allen, welgezind

    Den onverbreekb’ren band

Die Neerland en Oranje bindt

    Vorstin en vaderland (2x)

Bescherm, o God, bewaakt den grond

    Waarop onze adem gaat

De plek waar onze wieg op stond

    Wellicht ons sterfuur slaat

Wij smeken van Uw vaderhand

    Met blijden kinderzin

Behoud voor ’t lieve vaderland

    Voor land en koningin (2x)

Dring’ luid, vanuit ons feestgedruis

    De beê den hemel in:

Blijf met ons oud Oranjehuis

    Het volk steeds één gezin

Vorstin en prins prijze ons gezang

    En ’t klinke aan allen kant:

Bewaar het vorstelijk stamhuis lang

    En ’t lieve vaderland (2x)

English Translation

Whoever has Dutch blood flowing in their veins,

    Whose heart beats proud and free,

Who glows with love for his nation,

    Rejoice in song as we do!

He praises with everyone, well-affected,

    The indissoluble link

That binds the Netherlands to Orange,

    To Queen and country (2x)

Protect, oh Lord, protect the ground

    Whereupon we breathe

This place which held our cradle

    Where perhaps our dying-hour will come

We beseech of Your father hand

    With joyful childlike mind

Protection for the beloved fatherland

    For Queen and country (2x)

Pervade loudly, from within our festive roar

    This prayer unto heaven

Watch over our ancient House of Orange

    The nation for ever one family

Queen and Prince praise our song

    And sound it all around

Protect the Royal Dynasty for ever

    And the beloved fatherland (2x)
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