The originally French title refers to the Duchy of Brabant; the name is usually untranslated in Belgium's other two official languages, Dutch and German.

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 House of Orange, inspired by the version written by Louis Hymans.

[3] The Brabançonne is also a monument (1930) by the sculptor Charles Samuel on the Surlet de Chokier square in Brussels.

Like many elements in Belgian folklore, this is mainly based on the French "La Marseillaise" which is also both an anthem and the name of a monument – the sculptural group Departure of the Volunteers of 1792, commonly called La Marseillaise, at the base of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.

Abjure un ministre étrange, Rejette un nom trop détesté, Et tu verras mûrir l'Orange Sur l'arbre de la Liberté.

Worthy children of the Low Countries[b] Whom a fine passion has aroused, To your patriotic fervour Great successes lie in store.

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.

But woe to you if, wilfully, Pursuing dreadful plans, You turn on us The bloody cannon's fire!

Trop généreuse en sa colère, La Belgique, vengeant ses droits, D'un roi, qu'elle appelait son père, N'implorait que de justes lois.

Mais lui dans sa fureur étrange, Par le canon que son fils a pointé, Au sang belge a noyé l'Orange Sous l'arbre de la Liberté.

Fiers brabançons, peuples de braves, Qu'on voit combattre sans fléchir, Du sceptre honteux des Bataves, Tes balles sauront t'affranchir.

Et vous, objets de nobles larmes, Braves, morts au feu des cannons, Avant que la patrie en armes Ait pu connaître au moins vos noms, Sous l'humble terre où l'on vous range, Dormez, martyrs, bataillon indompté !

...wilfully Pursuing dreadful plans, On us, with cannon's brass, A prince has opened fire.

Too generous in her anger, Belgium, avenging her rights, From a king, whom she called her father, Sought no more than just laws.

But he, in his unexpected fury, By the cannon aimed by his son Has drowned Orange in Belgian blood Beneath the tree of Liberty.

O proud, brave people of Brabant, Seen not to flinch amid the fight, From the Batavians' shameful sceptre Your bullets will set you free.

And you, objects of noble tears, The brave, who died under cannon fire, Before the Fatherland, under arms, Could know at least your names, Beneath the humble earth where you are laid, Sleep, martyrs, unbroken battalion!

And now, undaunted people, Your hand, sovereign and proud, Has inscribed on your ancient banner: The King, and Law, and Liberty!

A ministerial circular of the Ministry of the Interior on 8 August 1921 decreed that only the fourth verse of the text by Charles Rogier should be considered official for all three, French, German and in Dutch.

𝄇 O dierbaar België, O heilig land der Vaad'ren, Onze ziel en ons hart zijn u gewijd.

Prosper, O land, in unbreakable unity; Always be yourself and unenslaved, 𝄆 Faithful to the word that you may speak fearlessly, For King, for Freedom and for Justice!