Netherlands Flag

How to identify it

Red over white over dark blue in three equal horizontal bands. Luxembourg has a much lighter blue lower band, while Russia puts white on top and red at the bottom.

Design and construction

Adoption and legal status

A royal order in 1937 confirmed red, white and blue after periodic debate over orange versus red.

History of the design

The modern flag follows a conventional 2:3 format. The legal colour statement does not assign symbolic meanings to the three bands.

Similar flags

Compare the details that separate these designs.

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  Luxembourg

  Luxembourg uses a much lighter blue lower band and is usually drawn longer; the Netherlands uses dark blue.

Sources