luxembourg flag

Flag Elements Description:

The flag of Luxembourg consists of three equal bands of red (Pantone 032C), white and blue (Pantone 299C) arranged horizontally. It is similar to the flag of the Netherlands which is smaller and uses a darker blue (navy).
 

Several theories about the origins of this flag exist.

Many believe that the flag of Luxembourg is simply copied or derived from that of the Netherlands because of their striking similarities. In addition, both countries were governed by the same dynasty of Orange-Nassau from 1815 to 1890. But the flag seems to appear for the first time in 1830 with the Belgian revolution against William I. Considering that this revolution was supported by a majority of the people of Luxembourg and the Duchy of Luxembourg, with the exception of the garrison city of Luxembourg, was under Belgian control, it seems unlikely that the flag is derived from that of Netherlands.

The arms of the counts and dukes of Luxembourg are emblazoned: barrully silver and azure, a lion rampant gules, crowned, armed and golden lamp, tail forked and looped On top of everything. At the same time, Belgium has adopted its flag (black, yellow and red) derived colors of Arms of the Duchy of Brabant blazoned: Sandy lion rampant or, armed gules and lamps. So it is plausible that the colors red, white and blue flag of Luxembourg have been similarly derived from the arms of the former dukes and earls of the country.

A final possibility is a direct or indirect derivation from the flag of France. Even today the flag blue, white, red is still popular in some circles as a sign of Luxembourg's support for the ideas of the French Revolution. On numerous occasions during the nineteenth century, these colors have been treed in Luxembourg, which during the Belgian Revolution. A bypass would not be illogical.

Ultimately, none of these theories can be proven, and many seem likely. It is likely that there will never be a definitive answer on this question of the origins of the flag of Luxembourg.

Officially, the flag was adopted in 1972, with the Act of June 23 and amended in 1993 with that of 27 July. In October 2006 the Luxembourg member Michel Wolter announced that it would submit a bill to replace the flag red, white and blue flag by the country's maritime.