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Images depict the Belgian revolution of 1830 against the United Kingdom of the Netherlands under William I . Portraits depict King Leopold I; first king of the Belgians.

This is a 1914 recording of La Brabançonne (Belgian National Anthem) by the Edison Concert Band. The original recording came from Edison Cylinder 0211.

The Belgian national anthem was written in September 1830 by a young revolutionary called "Jenneval", who read the lyrics (not included in this instrumental version) during a meeting at the Aigle d'Or café. Jenneval was in reality a Frenchman whose real name was Alexandre Dechet. Jenneval died in the war of independence.


Jenneval's original lyrics:

Worthy children of Low Countries]
Whom a fine passion has aroused,
To your patriotic fervour
Great successes lie in store.
Remain under arms, so that naught shall change!
Let us keep to the same will,
And we shall see Orange bloom anew
Upon the tree of Liberty.

To cries of murder and pillage,
The wicked had rallied around,
But your forceful courage
Has pushed them far away.
Now, pure of this filth
That was soiling your city,
Friends, we must graft Orange
Onto the tree of Liberty.

And you, in whom your people place their hopes,
Nassau, set firm our rights at last;
Remaining the father of the Belgians,
You'll be the example of kings.
Forswear a foreign minister,
Reject a too hated name,
And you will see Orange ripen
Upon the tree of Liberty.

But woe to you if, wilfully,
Pursuing dreadful plans,
You turn on us
The bloody cannon's fire!
Then all is over, all is changing;
No more pact, no more treaty,
And you shall see Orange fall
From the tree of Liberty.


François Van Campenhout composed the accompanying score, based on the tune of a French song called "L'Air des lanciers polonais" ("the tune of the Polish Lancers"), written by the French poet Eugène de Pradel.

In 1860, Belgium formally adopted the song and music as its national anthem, although the then prime minister, Charles Rogier edited out lyrics attacking the Dutch Prince of Orange.