The
Flag of Netherlands - Description of the Dutch Flag
As the
above picture of the Dutch Flag indicates the overall
background is Red, White and Blue
The description of
the Dutch Flag is as follows:
three equal
horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue
According to
Ancient and Heraldic traditions much symbolism is associated
with colors. The colors on the Dutch flag represent the
following:
White -
peace and honesty
Red -
hardiness, bravery, strength & valour
Blue -
vigilance, truth and loyalty, perseverance & justice
The people of the
Netherlands refer to themselves as Nederlanders, or
Netherlanders, but are also known as the Dutch
The Netherlands is
often called Holland which officially refers to the western part
of the country
All Flag
pictures depict flags flying, from the viewer's point of view,
from left to right
The shape and flag ratio of the Dutch flag is described as 2:3 ( length 1½ times the
height )
The History of the
Netherlands Flag
The first Dutch
flag, the Cross of Burgundy, was used in the 15th century and
united all of the Netherlands provinces under the banner of the
Lord of Burgundy on joint expeditions. The flag consisted of a
white background with an emblem consisting of two bundles of red
laurel branches in the shape of an 'X' with flames from the
intersection
The Prince's Flag,
a tricolour of Orange, White and Blue - The Prince of Orange led
a revolt against King Philip II of Spain and the Prince's Flag
was used during the Dutch war of independence (the Eighty Years
War)
A Royal Decree was
issued on February 19 1937, by Queen Wilhelmina, and the Red,
White and Blue colors of the Dutch National flag were adopted.
An orange pennant, together with the national flag, is still
flown as a sign of allegiance of the Dutch people to the House
of Orange
Flag
Terminology - Did you Know ?
The design and description
uses specific flag terminology based on Heraldic principles
Animal blazons should always appear
with the heads facing the flag - staff side
The Study of the Flags is called
Vexillology
Your interest in flags makes you a
Vexillologist!
Increase your knowledge - Play the
Flag Quiz
Flag History &
Evolution:
The idea of
flying a flag grew from the requirements of ancient warfare and
the battlefield
Shields were
painted with emblems to identify Friend or Foe
Warriors
needed to know where their leaders were - the custom of carrying
a pole was adopted
An emblem
such as a shield, animal or religious device was attached to the
pole for identification
The emblems
were also used for identity and to cover suits of armour - Coats
of Arms were born
These
emblems were the forerunners of modern flags
The Romans
were the first to use a cloth flag - they were square and
fastened to cross bars at the end of spears - the idea of
fastening a flag to the side of a pole soon followed
The strict
rules of Heraldry are still used when designing an emblem and
creating a modern flag
Dutch
Flag Etiquette
Dutch Flag etiquette is very strict and is is
essential that Flag protocols and rules are followed correctly
Basic
Flag
Etiquette applies to all nations, including Dutch as follows:
Etiquette relating to the order of
precedence for the flag
National Flag of
Dutch
State Flag of Dutch
Military Flag of
Dutch (in order of creation date)
Other Flag of Dutch
The United Nations uses alphabetical order
when presenting a national flag including the Dutch Flag. Their flag etiquette ensures
that no one country's flag has precedence over another country's
flag
The
National flag of
Dutch should never be flown
above another national flag on the same staff as this would
suggest superiority, or conversely, inferiority of one flag, or
Nation, over another
The Dutch flag should never be allowed to drag
along the ground
A tattered or faded flag of
Dutch should be removed
and replaced with a new flag
Due care and
consideration must be taken to ensure that the Dutch flag is
always
flown the correct way up
A Flag of Dutch, when in such
condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem of display,
should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning in
private with all due care and respect
Terminology & Etiquette in Dutch Flag display
Hoist - the
act or function of raising the Dutch flag, as on a rope
Half Staff
or Half Mast - the Dutch flag is hoisted to half of the potential
height of the flag pole to denote grief and mourning
Performed
by first raising the Dutch flag to the top, then lowering the
Dutch Flag halfway
Distress -
denoted by flying the Dutch flag upside-down
Manner of
hoisting - The Dutch flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered
ceremoniously
No
disrespect should be shown to the Dutch flag
The Dutch flag
should never be fastened, displayed, used, or stored in such a
manner as to permit the Flag to be easily torn, soiled, or damaged in
any way
The Dutch
flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it,
nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure,
design, picture, or drawing on the flag of any nature
The
Dutch flag should be hoisted first and lowered last
International Flag relating to Dutch
Flag usage forbids the
display of the flag of one nation above that of another nation
in time of peace
We hope that the presentation of facts
and information regarding Dutch Flag Etiquette has
provided a useful resource
Netherlands
Location:
Western Europe, bordering the North Sea,
between Belgium and Germany
Land Size of
Netherlands : 33,883 sq km
Climate / Weather
of Netherlands : temperate; marine; cool summers and mild
winters
Dutch Population :
16,318,199 (July 2004 est.)
Former Name(s) :
n/a
Dutch Capital City:
Amsterdam; The Hague is the seat of government
Dutch GDP: $461.4
billion (2003 est.)
Main Industries :
metal and engineering products, electrical machinery and
equipment, chemicals, petroleum, construction, microelectronics,
fishing
Main Colors of the
Dutch Flag : Red, White and Blue
The Celts and Ancient
Dutch History
Bronze and Iron Age - The emergence
of the Celts across Europe
400BC - By this time the ancient
culture of the Celts had settled in many European countries
including Austria, Britain, France, Holland, Belgium,
Switzerland, Western Germany, Northern Spain, Turkey and Hungary
The Celts were people from various
tribes and were called Galli by the Romans and Galatai or Keltoi
by the Greeks. These terms all had one meaning in common -
barbarian
It is from the Greek word Keltoi that
Celt is derived
Despite the name of Barbarian the
Celtic society was based almost entirely on pastoralism and the
raising of cattle or sheep
15 BC The Romans had begun to
extend their empire. Gallia (in English Gaul) is the Roman name
for the region of Europe occupied by the Celts. The word Gaul
commonly refers to a Celt inhabitant of that region in ancient
times
224 - 220 BC - Rome conquered the
Celts
390 BC - The Celts sacked Rome
280 BC - The Celts sacked many
Greek cities
390 BC - The Celts sacked Rome
50's BC -
Julius Caesar conquered much of the Low Countries, including
what is now the Netherlands
50 -100AD - The spread of
Christianity
400s AD The
Franks drove the Romans out of the region
476 AD The Roman Empire collapsed
Middle Ages - Various different
cultures emerged in the lands of the Celts and the history of
each country changed accordingly
870 The
Netherlands became part of the East Frankish kingdom (which is
now Germany - the West Frankish kingdom is now France)
The above information provides a
concise background to the Ancient Dutch civilisations
Concise History of
Netherlands & its Flag
1300s-1400s
The French Dukes of Burgundy united the Low Countries
1477 Mary of
Burgundy married Maximilian, of the House of Habsburg thus
joining the Low Countries with the Habsburg Empire
1516 The
Catholic King Charles I of Spain ruled the Netherlands
1519 King
Charles I of Spain became Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V
1500s The
Protestant Reformation swept through Europe and the Dutch
Protestants were persecuted by the Roman Catholics
1556 The
Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V, gave control of the Low Countries
to his son, King Philip II of Spain
1568 William
I, the Prince of Orange, led a revolt against the Spanish
government
1573 - 1574
The siege of Leiden between the rebels and the Spanish. 1574 The
dikes were opened allowing a Dutch fleet to sail over the flood
waters and rescue Leiden
1579 Union
of Utrecht The southern provinces of the Low Countries (which is
now Belgium) wanted to return to Spanish control but the Dutch
rebels continued with the revolt
26 July 1581
The Dutch declared their independence from Spain
1602 The
Dutch East India Company was formed in Jakarta, Indonesia
1600's
The expansion of the Dutch East India colonies, including Sri
Lanka, continued due to the massive Dutch sea power. Dutch
Traders were the only Europeans allowed to trade with Japan
1621 The
Dutch West India Company was founded and the colonies of New
York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Delaware were founded
1630-1654
The Dutch conquered Brazil
1648 Spain
recognized Dutch independence
1689 William
III was married to Mary the daughter of King James II of England
1689-1702
William and Mary ruled England
1689-1714
France fought with the Netherlands
1700s
The Dutch aided the Americans during the the American Revolution
and were drawn into a war against the British when they were
defeated
1795-1813
France and Napoleon conquered the Netherlands
1813 The
Dutch defeated the French
1814 William
VI, prince of Orange, became King William I of the Netherlands
1800's
Belgium and Luxembourg became independent
1914-1918
World War I - the Netherlands remained neutral
1940 German
troops invaded the Netherlands and the country was occupied
until the end of WWII in 1945
August 1945
The United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
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The
Dutch Flag and Nation
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and information regarding the Dutch Flag and Country has
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