"De Vlaamse Leeuw" (Dutch: [də ˈvlaːmsə ˈleːu] ⓘ; The Flemish Lion) is the official anthem of Flanders, a region and community in Belgium.

[1][2] The words of this anthem were written in July 1847 by Hippoliet Van Peene (1811–1864) who was clearly inspired by the song Sie sollen ihn nicht haben, / den freien Deutschen Rhein, / So lang sich Herzen laben / An seinem Feuerwein (They must never get our free German Rhine, As long as hearts relish its fiery wine) by the German author Nikolaus Becker.

Franco-Belgian political tension in the mid-19th century made the Flemish public mood ripe for such an expression of regional feeling.

At the time, it was not meant as anti-Belgian (as it often came to be seen by Flemish separatists and their Belgicist opponents), for the "enemy" it refers to is Belgium's southwestern neighbour France, as in the 1302 Battle of the Golden Spurs.

Wij lachen met zijn woede, de Vlaamse Leeuw is daar!

Ne'er shall they tame him, the proud Flemish Lion, Even if they threaten with chains and roars his freedom.

Time devoureth cities, ne'er shall thrones last, Armies may topple, but a folk dieth not.

Besieged by grievous danger, the foe cometh marching in; We laugh at his anger: the Flemish Lion is there!