While until now, players and spectators sang the anthem in their native language (French, Dutch or, more rarely, German), the federation (RBFA) created a “new version of the Brabançonne by mixing the three national languages.
“Knowledge of the Belgian national anthem is stagnating, both among players and among supporters. The federation wants to remedy this by relaunching the Brabançonne (…) that everyone will sing from now on by mixing the three national languages”, explained the RBFA in its press release, specifying that the lyrics will be broadcast on the screens of the stadium.
“The new anthem therefore symbolizes the brotherhood that exists between the supporters. They already support the team as one man, from now on they will also sing with one voice”, added Michaël Schockaert, marketing manager of the RBFA. Belgium, where language issues are a sensitive subject, has three official languages: Dutch (spoken by around 60% of the population), French (40%) and German (less than 1%).
The country is regularly shaken by community or linguistic quarrels between Flemings and French speakers. The latest opinion polls give nearly 45% of the intention to vote for the Flemish nationalist and separatist parties (Vlaams Belang and NVa) in view of the next legislative elections in November 2023.
On September 12 in Brussels against Estonia the Belgians will sing their new anthem.
