Wilms was a Dutch-German composer, best known for the setting the poem 'Wien Neerlands Bloed' to music, with served as the Dutch national anthem from 1815 to 1932. Wilms was born in Witzhelden, a small town near Solingen. After receiving lessons from his father and oldest brother in piano and composition, Wilms studied flute on his own. He moved to Amsterdam in 1791 where he played the flute in two orchestras and was soloist in Mozart and Beethoven piano concertos, giving them their Dutch premieres. Wilms wrote 7 symphonies, 5 piano concertos, some flute pieces and 5 ouvertures and more other pieces.For 23 years Wilms was the organist at a Mennonite church in Amsterdam, where he died.
