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.
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.
