Official Palette
Symbolism
The colors are derived from the coat of arms of the Duchy of Brabant: a golden lion (yellow) on a black field, with red claws and tongue. Individually, black represents the lions of Flanders and Namur, yellow represent the lion of Brabant, and red represents the lions of Hainaut, Limburg, and Luxembourg.
History
The current vertical tricolor was adopted on January 23, 1831, shortly after Belgium won its independence from the Netherlands. The vertical arrangement was specifically chosen to distinguish the Belgian flag from the horizontal stripes of the Dutch tricolor.
Construction
Official proportions are 13:15, making it the most 'square' national flag that isn't actually a square. The tricolor consists of three equal vertical bands of black, yellow, and red.
Color Meanings
Country Facts
- Population
- 11.8M
1.3% of Europe
- Capital
- Brussels
- Languages
- German, French, Dutch
- Continent
- Europe
- Subregion
- Benelux
- Landlocked
- No
- Borders
- ISO 3166-1
- BE
Flag Identification
- Adopted
- January 23, 1831
- Proportions
13:15 (≈1.154)
- De Jure Ratio
- 13:15 (de jure)
- Total Colors
- 3
- Primary Layout
- Vertical bands
Influences
Lookalike Comparison
Side-by-side analysis of high-confusion flags, comparing exact color shades, proportions, and historical divergence.
Direct Lookalike Comparison
Quick Tell
Belgium is vertical black-yellow-red; Germany is horizontal black-red-gold.
Historical Divergence
Belgium's vertical tricolor dates to January 23, 1831. Germany's current horizontal flag dates to May 23, 1949.
Flags with resemblance
Belgium is vertical black-yellow-red at 13:15. Germany is horizontal black-red-gold at 3:5.
Related flags
Flag Protocol
- The flag should be flown with the black band closest to the hoist
- Official government buildings must fly the 13:15 version
- During national mourning, the flag is flown at half-mast
Practice
Think you know the flags of Europe? Test your recognition in a quick practice round.