[2] The lyrics describe a man who has two appointments, one at the royal palace, another with Jane Fonda and yet another with the Flemish government who offer him a position in the Ministry of Culture.
Yet he fails to get at each of these appointments, because he has to cross the canal and the bridge happens to be closed every time he reaches it.
The final lyrics have him reflect that if God ever tells him it's time to die he'll try to go the bridge of Willebroek, so he'll have an excuse why he was late.
The song is used as a waiting tune for the telephone lines of the city council of Willebroek.
[3][1] In 2011 there was talk of raising a statue of Van de Velde near the bridge of Willebroek, but his family vetoed the idea.