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

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, 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.

Trivia

The Brabançonne is not only the name of the Belgian national anthem, it is also a monument on the Surlet de Chokier square in Brussels. The monument contains the partial lyrics of both the French and Dutch version of the anthem.

Lyrics

Official French-language text

O 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! (3x)

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 u zelf en ongeknecht,

Het woord getrouw, dat ge onbevreesd moogt spreken,

Voor Vorst, voor Vrijheid en voor Recht. (3x)

Official German-language text

O liebes Land, o Belgiens Erde

dir unser Herz, dir unsere Hand

dir unser Blut, dem Heimatherde

wir schwören'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!

Unofficial translation of the French lyrics

O Belgium, O beloved mother,

Thine our hearts, thine our arms,

Thine our blood, o Fatherland!

We all swear it: thou shalt live!

Thou shalt live, ever great and beautiful

And thy invincible unity

Shall have for everlasting motto:

The King, the Law, and Liberty!

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.

External links

National anthems | Belgian culture | Belgian Revolution

Химн на Белгия | Бельги патшалăхĕн гимнě | Belgická hymna | Brabançonne | La Brabançonne | La Brabançonne | La Brabançonne | Brabançonne | La Brabançonne | Brabançonne | Belga himnusz | Brabanconne | Brabançonne | ベルギーの国歌 | Hymn Belgii | Hino nacional da Bélgica | La Brabançonne | Гимн Бельгии | La Brabançonne | La Brabançonne | Brabançonne