Both "Wilhelmus" and the Dutch Revolt should be seen in the light of the 16th century Reformation in Europe and the resulting persecution of Protestants by the Spanish Inquisition in the Low Countries.

This song ridiculed the failed Siege of Chartres in 1568 by the Huguenot (Protestant) Prince de Condé during the French Wars of Religion.

Therefore, the last two lines of the first stanza indicate that the leader of the Dutch civil war against the Spanish Empire, of which they were part, had no specific quarrel with king Philip II of Spain, but rather with his emissaries in the Low Countries, such as Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, 3rd Duke of Alba.

The word Duytschen in the first stanza, generally translated into English as 'Dutch', 'native' or 'Germanic', is a reference to William's roots; its modern Dutch equivalent, Duits, exclusively means 'German', and while it may refer to William's ancestral house (Nassau, Germany) or to the lands of the Holy Roman Empire it is most probably a reference to an older meaning of the word, which can loosely be translated as 'Germanic', and seeks to position William as a person with a personal connection with the Low Countries as opposed to the king of Spain, Philip II, who was commonly portrayed as foreign, disconnected and out of touch.

It had been sung on many official occasions and at many important events since the outbreak of the Dutch Revolt in 1568, such as the siege of Haarlem in 1573 and the ceremonial entry of the Prince of Orange into Brussels on 18 September 1578.

[20] Another legend claims that following the Navigation Act 1651 (an ordinance by Oliver Cromwell requiring all foreign fleets in the North Sea or the Channel to dip their flag in salute) the "Wilhelmus" was sung (or rather, shouted) by the sailors on the Dutch flagship Brederode in response to the first warning shot fired by an English fleet under Robert Blake, when their captain Maarten Tromp refused to lower his flag.

At the end of the song, which coincided with the third and last English warning shot, Tromp fired a full broadside, thereby beginning the Battle of Goodwin Sands and the First Anglo-Dutch War.

"Wilhelmus" was also translated into Malay, of which was sung back when Indonesia was under Dutch colonial rule,[21] with the following lyrics: Selamat bagi Ratu yang maha mulia Aman dan sentosa di atas takhtanya Umur dan usia dilanjutkan Allah Rezeki murah lipat berganda-ganda

Bulan yang kedelapan diinilah waktu Tiga puluh satu bilangan tertentu Hari lahir Baginda Putri Ratu Mengucapkan selamat kami sekutu During the German occupation of the Netherlands, Arthur Seyss-Inquart, the Nazi Reichskommissar, banned all the emblems of the Dutch royal family, including the "Wilhelmus".

The film concerns a Royal Air Force bomber crew who are shot down over the occupied Netherlands and are helped to escape by the local inhabitants.

The melody is heard during the film as part of the campaign of passive resistance by the population, and it finishes with the coat of arms of the Netherlands on screen while the "Wilhelmus" is played.

During international sport events, such as the World Cup, UEFA European Football Championship, the Olympic Games and the Dutch Grand Prix, the "Wilhelmus" is also played.

Yearly rallies like the "IJzerbedevaart" and the "Vlaams Nationaal Zangfeest" close with singing the 6th stanza, after which the Flemish national anthem "De Vlaamse Leeuw" is sung.

The melody is also used in the Swedish folk song "Ack, Göta konungarike [sv]" ("Alas, Gothic Kingdom"), written in 1626, which deals with the liberation struggle of Sweden under Gustav Vasa during the 16th century.

Lydt u myn Ondersaten Die oprecht zyn van aert, Godt sal u niet verlaten Al zijt ghy nu beswaert: Die vroom begheert te leven Bidt Godt nacht ende dach, Dat hy my cracht wil gheven Dat ick u helpen mach.

Lyf en goet al te samen Heb ick u niet verschoont, Mijn broeders hooch van Namen Hebbent u oock vertoont: Graef Adolff is ghebleven In Vriesland in den slaech, Syn Siel int ewich Leven Verwacht den Jongsten dach.

Als David moeste vluchten Voor Saul den Tyran: Soo heb ick moeten suchten Met menich Edelman: Maer Godt heeft hem verheven Verlost uit alder noot, Een Coninckrijk ghegheven In Israel seer groot.

Oorlof mijn arme Schapen Die zijt in grooten noot, V Herder sal niet slapen Al zijt ghy nu verstroyt: Tot Godt wilt v begheven, Syn heylsaem Woort neemt aen, Als vrome Christen leven, Tsal hier haest zijn ghedaen.

Lijf en goed al te samen heb ik u niet verschoond, mijn broeders hoog van namen hebben 't u ook vertoond: Graaf Adolf is gebleven in Friesland in de slag, zijn ziel in 't eeuwig leven verwacht de jongste dag.

Dat ik doch vroom mag blijven, uw dienaar t'aller stond, de tirannie verdrijven die mij mijn hart doorwondt.

Maar God heeft hem verheven, verlost uit alder nood, een koninkrijk gegeven in Israël zeer groot.

Niets doet mij meer erbarmen in mijne wederspoed dan dat men ziet verarmen des Konings landen goed.

Als een prins opgezeten met mijner heireskracht, van de tiran vermeten heb ik de slag verwacht, die, bij Maastricht begraven, bevreesden mijn geweld; mijn ruiters zag men draven zeer moedig door dat veld.

Zo het de wil des Heren op die tijd was geweest, had ik geern willen keren van u dit zwaar tempeest.

[ɑɫs̠ ˈdaː.vɪt ˈmu.s̠tə ˈvlʏx.tən] [voːr ˈs̠ɑu̯.əɫ dɛn ti.ˈrɑn] [z̠oː ɦɛp ɪk ˈmu.tən ˈz̠ʏx.tən] [ɑɫs̠ ˈmeː.nəx ˈeː.dəɫ.ˌmɑn] [maːr ɣɔt ɦeːft ɦɛm vər.ˈɦeː.vən] [vər.ˈlɔs̠t œy̑t ˈɑɫ.dər noːt] [ən ˈkoː.nɪŋ.ˌkrɛi̯k ɣə.ˈɣeː.vən] [ɪn ˈɪs̠.raː.ˌɛɫ z̠eːr ɣroːt]

[ˈoːr.lɔf mɛi̯n ˈɑr.mə ˈs̠xaː.pən] [di z̠ɛi̯t ɪn ˈɣroː.tə noːt] [yu̯ ˈɦɛr.dər z̠ɑɫ nit ˈs̠laː.pən] [ɑɫ z̠ɛi̯t ɣɛi̯ ny vər.ˈs̠troːi̯t] [tɔt ɣɔt ʋɪɫt y bə.ˈɣeː.vən] [z̠ɛi̯n ˈɦɛi̯ɫ.z̠aːm ʋoːrt neːmt aːn] [ɑɫs̠ ˈvroː.mə ˈkrɪs̠.tən ˈleː.vən] [t‿z̠ɑɫ ɦiːr ɦaːs̠t z̠ɛi̯n ɣə.ˈdaːn]

An empire's prince, defended (Braving the battle's shock Heroically and fearless As pious Christian ought) With my life's blood the peerless Gospel of God our Lord.

My God, I pray thee, save me From all who do pursue And threaten to enslave me, Thy trusted servant true.

I bide that sight so pleasing Unto my princely heart, Which is that I with honor Encounter death in war, And meet in heaven my Donor, His faithful warrior.

Surely, if God had willed it, When that fierce tempest blew, My power would have stilled it, Or turned its blast from you But He who dwells in heaven, Whence all our blessings flow, For which aye praise be given, Did not desire it so.