A Dutch cast-iron coat-of-arms circa 1900

In 1544 William of Nassau inherited the possessions of his cousin René de Chalons, including the princedom of Orange. This inheritance allowed him to call himself the Prince of Orange and he changed his cousin's device 'Je maintiendrai Chalons' into 'Je maintiendrai Nassau'. Later the device became 'Je maintiendrai'.

In 1813 the state of The Netherlands was founded and 'Je Maintiendrai' became the national device. Since then it accompanies the coat-of-arms of The Netherlands.