Not a great deal is known about the life of the artist and poet Adriaen Valerius (ca. 1575 - 1625). He is mostly remembered today for his collection of 79 songs for voice and lute (or cittern) called the Nederlandtsche Gedenck-clanck (literally Netherlands sound memories;). The book is a collection of his poems, set to already-existing popular melodies, and is significant in that it is one of the earliest published sources of the Wilhelmus,; the Dutch National Anthem. The book gained national popularity during the long war with Spain, a popularity that was revived for similar reasons during German occupation in World War II.
