Wien Neêrlands Bloed
| English: To those in whom Dutch blood | |
|---|---|
National anthem of  Netherlands | |
| Lyrics | Hendrik Tollens |
| Music | Johann Wilhelm Wilms |
| Adopted | 1815 |
| Relinquished | 1932 |
| Audio sample | |
Wien Neêrlands bloed (instrumental) | |
Wien Neêrlands bloed (Those in whom Dutch blood) was the national anthem of the Netherlands between 1815 and 1932.
At the foundation of the Kingdom of the Netherlands 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. 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, 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 with which the Dutch were united in 1815 to form the United Kingdom of the Netherlands; the Wilhelmus might be interpreted as expressing Calvinist sentiments.
A competition was accordingly organized by Admiral Jan Hendrik van Kinsbergen which was won by the Dutch poet Hendrik Tollens (1780-1856) with his composition Wien Neêrlands Bloet, which after some failed attempts by less gifted composers, was set to music by Johann Wilhelm Wilms (1772-1847), a German expatriate living in Amsterdam.
Despite the adoption of the new anthem Het Wilhelmus remained popular and was played at the investiture of Queen Wilhelmina 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 and Army 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.
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 second line van vreemde smetten vrij ("free from foreign taint").
Version One
Wien Neerlands bloed in d' aders vloeit Van vreemde smetten vrij Wiens hart voor land en koning gloeit Verheff' de zang als wij: Hij zett' met ons, vereend van zin Met onbeklemde borst Het godgevallig feestlied in Voor vaderland en vorst (2x)
:Who boasts of true Dutch blood :Whose heart abhors the wrong :May join our goodly brotherhood :May join our festive song :Our manly voices let us raise :And take him by the hand :And sing the honor and the praise :Of our dear Fatherland.
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, van uit ons feestgedruis die beé uw 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! de koning lang En 't lieve vaderland (2x)
Version Two
Wien Neêrlands bloed in de ad'ren 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're band Die Neêrland en Oranje bindt Vorstin en vaderland (2x)
Bescherm, o God! bewaak 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, van uit ons feestgedruis De beê den hemel in: Blijv' met ons oud Oranjehuis Het volk steeds één gezin Vorstin en prins prijze ons gezang En 't klinke aan allen kant: Bewaar het vorst'lijk stamhuis lang En 't lieve vaderland (2x)