Tricolour Of Red White And Blue

Dutch Flag History and Symbolism

Tricolour of Red, White, and Blue

The Netherlands' national flag is a horizontally striped tricolour, with equal-sized bands of red, white, and blue.

Princes' Flag

The flag's origins trace back to the 16th century, when William I, Prince of Orange, became a leader in the Dutch revolt against Spanish rule. His personal standard—a combination of red, white, and blue—became known as the "Princes' Flag."

Official Adoption

The current Dutch flag was officially adopted on February 19, 1937. The width-to-length ratio is 2:3.