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.