Flag of the Netherlands

Meaning and history of the flag of the Netherlands

The flag of the Netherlands consists of three equal horizontal stripes of red, white, and blue, from top to bottom. It is one of the oldest tricolors in the world and directly inspired the flags of France, Russia, and many other countries. The top stripe was originally orange, honoring William of Orange, leader of the revolt against Spain in the 16th century, but it was replaced by red in the mid-17th century for practical reasons, since the orange dye faded quickly.

The three colors represent the nation's historic values: red symbolizes the courage of the people, white represents God's blessing and purity, and blue reflects loyalty and justice. The flag was officially recognized by royal decree in 1937. It is nearly identical to the flag of Luxembourg, differing only in the shade of blue, which is a darker cobalt in the Dutch flag and a lighter sky blue in Luxembourg's.

You can view the flag of the Netherlands in high resolution above and download it in several sizes for personal, educational or reference use. To explore more, visit the full the Netherlands profile, its map, or the current local time in Amsterdam.