De Vlaamse Leeuw
Encyclopedia
De Vlaamse Leeuw is the official anthem
of Flanders
, a region
in the federal kingdom of Belgium
.
(1811—1864) who was clearly inspired by the song Sie sollen ihn nicht haben, / den freien Deutschen Rhein, / So lang sich Herzen laben / An seinem Feuerwein (They must never get our free German Rhine, As long as hearts relish its fiery wine) by the German author Nikolaus Becker.
The music, by Karel Miry
(1823—1899), is apparently influenced by Robert Schumann
's Sonntags am Rhein.
Like France's Marseillaise, De Vlaamse Leeuw is a nationalist battle song. Franco-Belgian political tension in the mid-19th century made the Flemish public mood ripe for such an expression of regional feeling. At the time it was not meant as anti-Belgian (as it often came to be seen by Flemish separatists and their Belgicist opponents), for the 'enemy' it refers to is Belgium's southwestern neighbour France, as in the 1302 Battle of the Golden Spurs
.
Around 1900 the anthem was in general use among Flemish militants.
On 6 July 1973, a decree by the then Raad voor de Nederlandse Cultuurgemeenschap (the precursor of the present Flemish Parliament
) proclaimed the first two stanzas to be the official national anthem of Flanders. The text and musical notation were officially published on 11 July 1985.
Only the text above is actually sung on official occasions, not the following stanzas:
Only the text above is actually sung on official occasions, not the following stanzas:
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 Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
, a region
Region
Region is most commonly found as a term used in terrestrial and astrophysics sciences also an area, notably among the different sub-disciplines of geography, studied by regional geographers. Regions consist of subregions that contain clusters of like areas that are distinctive by their uniformity...
in the federal kingdom of Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
.
Composition
The words of this anthem were written in July 1847 by Hippoliet Van PeeneHippoliet van Peene
Hippoliet Jan van Peene was a Flemish physician and playwright.He studied Medicine at the State university of Louvain and became a physician in Kaprijke and later in Ghent....
(1811—1864) who was clearly inspired by the song Sie sollen ihn nicht haben, / den freien Deutschen Rhein, / So lang sich Herzen laben / An seinem Feuerwein (They must never get our free German Rhine, As long as hearts relish its fiery wine) by the German author Nikolaus Becker.
The music, by Karel Miry
Karel Miry
Karel Miry was a Belgian composer.He was one of the first Belgian composers to write operas to librettos in Dutch. He composed the music for De Vlaamse Leeuw the national anthem of Flanders, and for which Hippoliet van Peene wrote the lyrics...
(1823—1899), is apparently influenced by Robert Schumann
Robert Schumann
Robert Schumann, sometimes known as Robert Alexander Schumann, was a German composer, aesthete and influential music critic. He is regarded as one of the greatest and most representative composers of the Romantic era....
's Sonntags am Rhein.
Like France's Marseillaise, De Vlaamse Leeuw is a nationalist battle song. Franco-Belgian political tension in the mid-19th century made the Flemish public mood ripe for such an expression of regional feeling. At the time it was not meant as anti-Belgian (as it often came to be seen by Flemish separatists and their Belgicist opponents), for the 'enemy' it refers to is Belgium's southwestern neighbour France, as in the 1302 Battle of the Golden Spurs
Battle of the Golden Spurs
The Battle of the Golden Spurs, known also as the Battle of Courtrai was fought on July 11, 1302, near Kortrijk in Flanders...
.
Around 1900 the anthem was in general use among Flemish militants.
On 6 July 1973, a decree by the then Raad voor de Nederlandse Cultuurgemeenschap (the precursor of the present Flemish Parliament
Flemish Parliament
The Flemish Parliament constitutes the legislative power in Flanders, for matters which fall within the competence of Flanders, both as a geographic region and a cultural community of Belgium The Flemish Parliament (Dutch: , and formerly called Flemish Council or Vlaamse Raad) constitutes the...
) proclaimed the first two stanzas to be the official national anthem of Flanders. The text and musical notation were officially published on 11 July 1985.
Text (in Dutch)
- Zij zullen hem niet temmen, de fiere Vlaamse Leeuw,
- Al dreigen zij zijn vrijheid met kluisters en geschreeuw.
- Zij zullen hem niet temmen, zolang een Vlaming leeft,
- Zolang de Leeuw kan klauwen, zolang hij tanden heeft.
- Chorus:
- Zij zullen hem niet temmen, zolang een Vlaming leeft,
- Zolang de Leeuw kan klauwen, zolang hij tanden heeft.
- Zolang de Leeuw kan klauwen, zolang hij tanden heeft.
- De tijd verslindt de steden, geen tronen blijven staan:
- De legerbenden sneven, een volk zal nooit vergaan.
- De vijand trekt te velde, omringd van doodsgevaar.
- Wij lachen met zijn woede, de Vlaamse Leeuw is daar.
- Chorus
Only the text above is actually sung on official occasions, not the following stanzas:
- Hij strijdt nu duizend jaren voor vrijheid, land en God;
- En nog zijn zijne krachten in al haar jeugdgenot.
- Als zij hem machteloos denken en tergen met een schop,
- Dan richt hij zich bedreigend en vrees'lijk voor hen op.
- Chorus
- Wee hem, de onbezonnen', die vals en vol verraad,
- De Vlaamse Leeuw komt strelen en trouweloos hem slaat.
- Geen enkle handbeweging die hij uit 't oog verliest:
- En voelt hij zich getroffen, hij stelt zijn maan en briest.
- Chorus
- Het wraaksein is gegeven, hij is hun tergen moe;
- Met vuur in't oog, met woede springt hij den vijand toe.
- Hij scheurt, vernielt, verplettert, bedekt met bloed en slijk
- En zegepralend grijnst hij op's vijands trillend lijk.
- Chorus
English translation - The Flemish Lion
(This quite literal translation does not fully reflect the true intentions of some poetic phrasings in the Dutch original)- They will never tame him, the proud Flemish Lion,
- Even if they threaten his freedom with fetters and with shouts.
- They will never tame him, as long as one Fleming lives.
- As long as the Lion can claw, as long as he has teeth.
- Chorus:
- They will never tame him, as long as one Fleming lives.
- As long as the Lion can claw, as long as he has teeth.
- As long as the Lion can claw, as long as he has teeth.
- Time devours cities, no thrones will ever last,
- Armies may go under, but a people never dies.
- The enemy comes marching in; surrounded by mortal danger
- We laugh at his anger: the Flemish Lion is here!
- Chorus
Only the text above is actually sung on official occasions, not the following stanzas:
- For a thousand years now has he fought, for freedom, land and God,
- And yet his strength is as youthful as ever.
- Should anyone think him powerless, and taunt him with a kick,
- Both menacing and fearsome will he rise.
- Chorus
- Pity the mindless who, deceptive and full of treason,
- Comes to pet the Flemish Lion and hit him faithlessly.
- Not a single movement he does not see:
- And if he feels offended, he will raise his manes and roar.
- Chorus
- The sign of revenge has been given, he is tired of their bait;
- With fire in the eye, in anger he jumps towards the enemy.
- He tears, destroys, crushes, covers in blood and mud
- And in victory grins over his enemy's trembling corpse.
- Chorus
See also
- De Leeuw van Vlaanderen (The Lion of Flanders, synonymous title, but also the nickname of its hero, the medieval Count Robert III of FlandersRobert III of FlandersRobert III of Flanders , also called Robert of Bethune and nicknamed The Lion of Flanders , was Count of Nevers 1273–1322 and Count of Flanders 1305–1322.-History:...
and the title of the Flemish national epic by Hendrik ConscienceHendrik ConscienceHenri "Hendrik" Conscience was a Belgian writer. He was a pioneer in writing in Dutch after the secession from the Netherlands in 1830 left Belgium a mostly French speaking country....
). - Flag of FlandersFlag of FlandersThe flag of Flanders, called the Vlaamse Leeuw or leeuwenvlag , is the flag of the Flemish Community and Flemish Region. The flag was officially adopted by the Raad voor de Nederlandse Cultuurgemeenschap in 1973, and later, in 1985, by its successor, the Flemish Parliament...
, featuring a lion - The Brabançonne
- Le Chant des Wallons
Sources and External links
- The Regional Government of Flanders has a page with information on the anthem, including a vocal recording (Dutch)