- Willem Gijssels was born on April 23, 1875 in Dendermonde, Flanders, Belgium. Willem was a writer and composer, known for De wonderdokter (1936), Drie flinke kerels (1938) and Uilenspiegel leeft nog (1935). Willem died on April 5, 1945 in Antwerpen, Flanders, Belgium.
- He wrote cantatas in memory of Hendrik Conscience in 1912, set to music by August de Boeck, and of Albrecht Rodenbach in 1931, set to music by Jef Van Hoof.
- In London, he wrote the poem "These are Meadows as Cradling Seas," which became very famous after it was set to music by Renaat Veremans in 1912. He returned from Great Britain to Belgium and worked there as a clerk for the British Railways until the First World War.
- In 1904, he co-founded-along with composer Arthur Wilfort and singer Floris T'Sjoen, among others-the Flemish Music School (later called the Wilfort Music School). Along with Arthur Wilfort, he was involved in musical initiatives such as the publication of Het Vlaamsche Lied (The Flemish Song) and the "liederavonden voor het volk" (Lieder Evenings for the People).
- Willem Gijssels was a Belgian poet, librettist, translator and civil servant.
- The name Willem Gijssels was given to a new street on Antwerp's Left Bank in 1953.
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