Willem

Willem is a masculine given name of Dutch origin, the standard Dutch form of the German Wilhelm and the English William. It has long been common in the Netherlands and in Dutch-speaking communities in Belgium, and it remains widely used today.

The name derives from the Germanic elements wil ("will, desire") and helm ("helmet, protection"), together signaling a resolute protector.

In Dutch, Willem is commonly shortened to Wim, and informal spellings such as Will or Willy may appear in some contexts. Variants and cognates include Wilhelm (German), William (English), and Guillaume (French).

Notable people named Willem include the painter Willem de Kooning (1904–1997), the 21st-century Dutch king Willem-Alexander (born 1967), the explorer Willem Barentsz (c. 1550–1597), and the statesman Willem Drees (1886–1988). The name is also associated with William of Orange (in Dutch, Willem van Oranje), a historical leader of the Dutch revolt against Spanish rule and a foundational figure in Dutch history. Willem remains a distinctly Dutch form with a long-standing cultural presence in the Netherlands and Flemish regions.