Netherlands Flag – History and Facts of the Dutch Flag (1813)

The National Flag of Netherlands- Description, History, and Meaning

Netherlands Flag
Netherlands Flag

The present-day tricolor Dutch flag also called the Flag of the Kingdom of the Netherlands has a clear, simple design, deep-rooted symbolic eminence, and long history before it was finally adopted in 1949.

Many versions of the red-white-blue flag have been in use in the country since the 16th century.

Design of the Dutch Flag

Used as the national flag and ensign, the Netherlands flag has a simple and clutter-free design. It has a ratio of 2:3 featuring three horizontal bands of equal dimensions with bright vermillion red on the top, white in the middle, and cobalt blue at the bottom.

Colour Configurations

The exact official colours of the national flag of the Netherlands were defined by the NEN in November 1958. The official shades in different standard colour schemes are as follows:

SchemeRedWhiteBlue
Pantone286white179
RGB0-71-171255-255-255227-66-52
CMYK100-58-0-320-0-0-00-70-77-10

Meaning and Symbolism

The triband flag is one of the eminent Dutch symbols and is also considered the oldest tricolour flag in the world. There is no specific official and universally accepted symbolic representation of these colours on the national flag.

However, according to the popular sayings over the years, herein is a concise description of what these three colours are believed to represent.

The upper horizontal red stripe signifies strength, valour, and bravery. The white band represents peace and honesty. The blue stripe on the lower part symbolizes vigilance, loyalty, and justice.

Historical Background

Cross of Burgundy (15th Century)

The earliest historical account of the use of flags or banners in the Netherlands dates back to the 15th century when the majority of its provinces were ruled by the Duke of Burgundy. The country was mainly represented by the Cross of Burgundy featuring the red saltire designed like two roughly-pruned knotted branches placed diagonally on a white background.

The flag was used during common voyages and remained in use even when the 17 provinces were controlled by the House of Habsburg, then called the Habsburg Netherlands.

Prince’s Flag or Prinsenvlag (1572-1795)

Prince’s Flag also called Prinsenvlag is eminent in the history of the Dutch flag. The design of the present-day national flag of the country is a variation of this historical tricolour.

In 1568, William I, the Prince of Orange led the revolt in the provinces in the Low Countries against the Spanish ruler King Phillip II. Soon he became the leader of the Dutch independence movement. In the Seize of Leiden in 1574, the Dutch army wore tricolour armbands based on the insignia colours of William- orange, white, and blue. These colours symbolize the arms of the ancestral territory of the House of Orange.

In the following year, a tricolour flag in orange, white, and blue that appeared for the first time is popularly called the Prince’s flag- the first Dutch flag. Even after the death of William, the flag served as the symbol of national unity with several instances of usage as a naval flag.

The design of several flags such as the New York, Albany, and the New York City is based on the orange, white, and blue tricolour for being the former dominion of the Dutch Republic.

Even today the soccer team of the Netherlands wear dazzling orange jerseys in honour of the House of Orange.

States Flag or Statenvlag (1652-72)

The orange shade on the Prinsenvlag faded away too soon, towards the end of the Eighty Years War, urging the need to replace it with a colour that lasts longer. Hence the red, white, and blue tricolour, adopted as a suitable alternative, appeared by 1596. However, the paintings of the time indicate its use more often after the 1630s.

Initially, before 1664, the red, white, and blue tricolour were popularly called the “Flag of Holland” or the Hollandsche Vlag got its name from one of the rebelling provinces. In the meantime, another revolting province- the States of Zeeland expressed its resentment over the name of the red version flag. Responding to the issue, the States-General passed a resolution naming it the “States Flag” or the Statenvlag.

Both the Prince’s flag and the States flag were in use from 1630-1662. After 1663, the States flag was mainly used in the provinces and it even served as the flag of the navy at that time.

The blue colour in both of these flags had a lighter shade compared to that in the present-day national flag.

Flag of the Batavian Republic (1795-1806)

The Prince’s flag was forbidden for further use during and aftermath of the Batavian Revolution in the Netherlands and the French conquest towards the last decade of the 18th century. The States flag was only authorized for use as it was also similar to the official French tricolour that was adopted a few months earlier and also inspired by the Statenvlag.

In 1796, a new version of the States flag was created for the Batavian Republic. The red band had the emblem of the Republic on the hoist side canton part. The emblem featured the Netherlands maiden with a shield depicting the Roman fasces in one hand and a lance crowned with the cap of Liberty in the other hand alongside a lion seated at her feet. This flag had a darker blue shade at the bottom.

However, the Batavian Republic ceased to exist when Napoleon crowned his brother Louis Bonaparte the king of Holland. The new king wanted to follow a pure Dutch policy eliminating the emblem of the freedom movement from the States flag.

After the incorporation of the Netherlands into the French empire, the States flag was replaced by the imperial emblems in 1810.

The National Flag of the Netherlands (1813-Present)

The Prince of Orange returned from banishment when the Netherlands regained freedom in 1813. To celebrate the occasion, the red, white, and blue tricolour embellished with an orange pennant was flown everywhere. Some modern newspapers also published reports about solid orange flags flown at many places to mark the loyalty of the common masses towards the House of Orange.

The Prince’s flag regained popularity again towards the outbreak of World War II. Many people especially the members of the National Socialist Movement strongly supported the flag stating that orange, white, and blue were the true colours of the Nethhttps://flagshoppen.com/pro/netherlands-flag/erlands flag.

However, the controversy ended with the issuance of the royal decree by Queen Wilhelmina on 19 February 1937 stating, “The colours of the flag of the Kingdom of the Netherlands are red, white, and blue.”

In an attempt to eliminate confusion of any sort regarding the exact shades, the Ministry of Navy on 16 August 1949 issued the exact colour definition to be used on the national flag and ensign- vermillion red, white, and cobalt blue.

Interesting Facts about the Dutch Flag

  • The red, white, and blue tricolour has inspired the flag designs of many Slavic countries including Russia, Luxembourg, Yugoslavia, etc.
  • In honour of the House of Orange, the orange pennant is added to the top of the Dutch flag on King’s Day on 27 April and during other festive events related to the royal family.
  • According to some historians, the red, white, and blue colours of the Netherlands flag have been adopted from the coat of arms of Bavaria.

Important Flag Days in the Netherlands

As a general rule the national flag is flown on the government buildings on the following important days:

4 May: Remembrance Day or Remembrance of the Dead (half-staff)

5 May: Liberation Day

Last Saturday of June: Veteran’s Day

15 August: End of the Second World War

Days when the Orange Pennant is added atop the Dutch Flag

31 January: Princess Beatrix’s Birthday

27 April: King’s Day

17 May: Queen Maxima’s Birthday

3rd Tuesday of September: Prince’s Day (observed only in The Hague)

7 December: Princess Catharina-Amalia’s Birthday

15 December: Kingdom Day

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