Artist: anonymus
Author: Petrus Detheem
Year: 1570

Oldest version found is a German one (1573), the oldest Dutch version is from 1574. Based upon the 'Tune of Chartres' (Oh la folle entreprise - Autre chanson de la ville de Chartres assiégée par le prince de Condé), a song about a Huguenot attempt to capture the city of Chartres in 1568. 'Geuzenlied' in support of William of Orange's rebel cause against the Spanish, following his defeat in the battle of Heiligerlee. Straight Calvinist Petrus Detheem (1531-1588) was a preacher during that military campaign against Chartres, so he heard the tune first-handed, which makes him rather than Marnix, Lord of Sint-Aldegonde, a better choice as composer of this hymn praising William of Orange. That was well before he became one of William's most ferrocious critics. Reason why his name got lost. The song consists of 15 eight-line stanzas, beginning with letters forming the name WILLEM VAN NASSOV. Lyrics are symmetrical: verse 1 and 15 are similar, 2 and 14, 3 and 13 etc. Verse 8 is neutral. Usually only the first and the sixth stanza are sung. Originally played twice as fast. It was a joyful tune, useful for both combat signals and dancing. In the nineteenth century the tempo slowed down. Melody used as trumpet warning in the army, in the navy and on special official occasions. On the battlefield the melody gave more courage than 10,000 extra soldiers, a situation similar to that of the French Marseillaise and the Belgian Brabançonne (see there). The official Dutch National Anthem since 1932.

During the reign of William V (1766-1795) the Wilhelmus became the Orange party's hymn, making it not neutral enough to become the national anthem. It became the kings song at the crowning of Willem's son in 1813. The people didn't sing along. Between 1815 and 1932, Hendrik Tollens' Wien Neêrlandsch Bloed was regarded as folk hymn #1 in Holland. Oldest known public performance: tenor Willem Pasques de Chavonnes Vrugt (1830).