Belgium National Anthem: History, Author, Lyrics In Different Languages

Rosemary March 05, 2023 | 21:40

Belgium's national anthem has a lot of versions in different languages.

What Is National Anthem Of Belgium: History, Author, Lyrics In Different Languages. Photo classic FM

What is national anthem of Belgium?

Originally composed in French and known as "La Brabançonne," the Belgian national anthem dates back to some time around 1830.

The lyrics were supposedly written by a young rebel during the Belgian Revolution known as "Jenneval," whose real name was Alexandre Duchet.

A musical setting to Jenneval's words was written by Belgian musician François Van Campenhout in the same year. L'Air des lanciers polonais," a French song by poet Eugène de Pradel, served as inspiration for the score (The Tune of the Polish Lancers).

After the first three verses were published in 1860, Belgian Prime Minister Charles Rogier added a new verse in which he defended the Dutch Prince of Orange. The song was officially recognized as the national anthem once the country approved it.

Lyrics to the national anthem of Belgium

English translation:

O beloved Belgium, sacred land of our fathers,

Our heart and soul are dedicated to you.

Our strength and the blood of our veins we offer,

Be our goal, in work and battle.

Prosper, O country, in unbreakable unity,

Always be yourself and free.

Trust in the word that, undaunted, you can speak:

For King, for Freedom and for Law.

French version:

Ô Belgique, ô mère chérie,

À toi nos cœurs, à toi nos bras,

À toi notre sang, ô Patrie !

Nous le jurons tous, tu vivras !

Tu vivras toujours grande et belle

Et ton invincible unité

Aura pour devise immortelle :

Le Roi, la Loi, la Liberté !

Aura pour devise immortelle :

Le Roi, la Loi, la Liberté !

Dutch version:

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!

Het woord getrouw, dat g' onbevreesd moogt spreken,

Voor Vorst, voor Vrijheid en voor Recht!

German version:

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!"

und fortan singen Deine Söhne:

"Gesetz und König und die Freiheit hoch!"

Trilingual version:

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

Onze ziel en ons hart zijn u gewijd.

À toi notre sang, ô Patrie !

Nous le jurons tous, tu vivras !

So blühe froh in voller Schöne,

zu der die Freiheit Dich erzog,

und fortan singen Deine Söhne:

Le Roi, la Loi, la Liberté !

Het woord getrouw, dat g' onbevreesd moogt spreken,

Voor Vorst, voor Vrijheid en voor Recht!

Gesetz und König und die Freiheit hoch!

Le Roi, la Loi, la Liberté !

Why does Belgium's national anthem have lots of versions in different languages?

THEY SPEAK FRENCH AND DUTCH (AND A LITTLE GERMAN)

Brussels, a bilingual city, speaks mostly French.

Northern Flanders is Dutch-speaking and southern Wallonia is French-speaking; these two regions make up Belgium. In contrast, the Dutch spoken in Flanders is more frequently known as Flemish. Brussels, the country's capital, is located roughly in the geographic center of the country, between the two official languages (although I found much more French to be spoken here). I spent the majority of my time in Brussels and Flanders, where I got by just fine communicating in English.

And now we know, courtesy to Johanna below, that there is a tiny sliver of Belgium just on the border with Germany where German is spoken.

Facts about Belgium

Photo shutterstock

PROSTITUTION IS LEGAL

It's difficult to take pictures when your head is hung in shame.

The Red Light District of Amsterdam isn't the only city in Europe where you may (legally) pay to have sex with a stranger; it turns out that the Belgians are in on the prostitution racket, too. Perhaps it is because the visiting dignitaries (looking at you, Obama) feel lonely without their families, or perhaps it is because they don't want the Dutch to have all the fun.

You may rest assured that no matter how lonely you may feel while traveling through Europe, friends will always be waiting for you in Belgium.

ITS FLAG IS DIFFERENT THAN GERMANY'S

Photo all poster

Several people find it hard to properly interpret flags. Whilst I find it interesting to become familiar with the flags of different nations (South Korea's is currently my favorite), I must agree that many of them look quite alike. The flag of Belgium consists of three vertical stripes of equal width, colored black, yellow, and red, read from left to right.

The flag of Germany features these colors, but in horizontal stripes (similar to the situation with the flags of France and the Netherlands). If you're having trouble, just picture the offspring of a sexual encounter between the flags of Germany and the Netherlands.

BARS NEVER CLOSE

Want to ask that prostitute for twenty minutes behind the curtain, but you still need a few more drinks? Now, happily, in Belgium there is no need to worry about the bar closing on you because there is no set bar time in place (aka last call). For those of you who haven't figured it out by now (other than being too drunk to care, cheers), I'll spell it out for you: bars never have to shut down. You may relax knowing that you'll have plenty of time to sample the wide range of beers available in Belgium.