Belgian flag

Every country has its own flag, and it is colored in colors that have a decipherment and a certain meaning for the history of the state. Most often it is a rectangular cloth of regular shape. Unlike the flag, the flag is a product of large mass production.

This is what the modern flag of Belgium looks like:

History of the flag

The flag of Belgium was adopted on January 23, 1831. The peculiarities of the appearance are prescribed in article 193 of the Belgian Constitution. During the revolution in 1831, the Southern provinces became independent from the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which marked the beginning of the foundation of the Belgian Kingdom.

The national symbol was raised over the country for the first time. The arrangement of the color stripes repeated the tricolor of the cloth used by the revolutionaries in Brabant in 1798. It was then that the first attempt to declare the independence of the state and get rid of the domination of Austria was carried out.

The states of Belgium had been in existence for no more than a year, yet the attempt to secede had an impact on the course of subsequent history.

The Brabant Rebellion used symbolism with a horizontal arrangement of colored stripes. At the bottom was gold, then black in the middle and red closed the composition. After the revolution the provisional government changed the orientation of the stripes to vertical. Two weeks later the flag became an article of the state Constitution of Belgium.

Description

The symbol of the Kingdom of Belgium is a canvas that is divided into three vertical lines. It has a rectangular shape with an aspect ratio of 13:15. For civilians, it is allowed to use a canvas whose proportions are 2:3, which does not contradict the Belgian constitution. Above the Royal Palace, located in Brussels, flies a flag whose sides are in the ratio 4:3.

This is due to the peculiarities of perspective, such dimensions are more easily perceived by those who look down.

The civil flag of the Belgian Kingdom is simultaneously used by the navy. However, tradition has developed differently, and the flag of the armed forces looks different. On a white background in the middle is the Andrew’s Cross, which is painted in the traditional colors: black, gold and red. At the top relative to the intersection is a crown and two crossed cannons. Symmetrically, below the central point, there is an anchor.

In addition to the civilian and military, the Kingdom of Belgium has a government flag. In addition to the traditional vertical stripes, it has a lion on its hind legs and the crown of the monarch. It used to be used by the navy, starting in 1936. After the seizure of the Belgian lands by Nazi Germany, the flag was abolished, and in 1950 it was used as the national symbol.

Flag colors

The flag of the Kingdom of Belgium includes three vertical wide stripes of equal size. There is black on the left, then yellow in the middle and red last on the right.

Meaning of colors and flag symbol

Each stripe represents one of the important regions of the kingdom. Black belongs to Brabant, yellow is the coat of arms of Flanders, and red is the sign of Hainaut.

According to other sources, all three colors belong to the Duchy of Brabant, dating back to the twelfth century, and are also the symbol of the Belgian Revolution of 1830.

Flags are traditionally found on the buildings of public and educational institutions. On holidays, people buy souvenir flags, carry them around, attach them to cars and decorate their homes. Desecration of the national symbol is punishable by a fine and imprisonment from a week to a year.

General information about Belgium

Map of Belgium