Flag of Belgium

Belgian flag
- Official approval of the flag: 1831 year
- Flag emoji: 🇧🇪
- Period: Modern flags
- Type of flag: Flags of countries • Flags of continental countries
- Belonging to the continent: Europe
- Colors on the flag: yellow • red • black
- Emblem on the flag: Without emblem
Belgium is located in Western Europe, bordering France, the Netherlands, Germany, and Luxembourg. Its capital is Brussels, which is also the administrative center of the European Union. The country covers an area of 30,689 km² and has a population of about 11.5 million people. Belgium has three official languages: Dutch, French, and German, which reflects the division into Flemish and Walloons. Belgium is a constitutional monarchy. The main national composition is Flemish, Walloon and German, with communities of French and Turks.
The flag of Belgium, known as the “black, yellow and red tricolor”, is the official symbol of the Kingdom of Belgium. Its vertical design, consisting of three stripes of equal width, reflects the country’s historical heritage and struggle for independence. The flag represents the unity of the nation, although the country has several regions with their own identities.

History of the Belgian flag
The history of the Belgian flag is closely linked to the country’s struggle for independence in the 19th century.
Origin of the flag
- Flag of the Duchy of Brabant: The black, yellow, and red colors were inspired by the coat of arms of the Duchy of Brabant, a historical region that is located in what is now Belgium.
- 1830: During the Belgian Revolution against the Dutch authorities, the black, yellow, and red colors were used as a symbol of the struggle for independence. Initially, the colors were arranged horizontally.
Establishment of modern design
In January 1831, after the declaration of Belgian independence, the modern vertical design of the flag was officially adopted. This change made the Belgian flag more unique, different from the horizontal tricolor of the Netherlands.

Colors of the Belgian flag
Meaning of the flag colors
Each of the three colors of the Belgian flag has its own symbolic meaning:
- Black:
- Symbolizes strength and resilience.
- It comes from the coat of arms of the Duchy of Brabant.
- Yellow:
- It represents prosperity, wealth and light.
- It also symbolizes the golden crown on the coat of arms.
- Red:
- It is a symbol of courage, revolution and blood shed for freedom.
- It represents the struggle for Belgian independence.
Color codes
The official colors of the flag are approved to accurately reproduce its design:

- Black:
- RGB: (0, 0, 0)
- HEX: #000000
- CMYK: (0, 0, 0, 100)
- Pantone: Black
- Yellow:
- RGB: (253, 218, 37)
- HEX: #FDDA25
- CMYK: (0, 14, 85, 0)
- Pantone: 116 C
- Red:
- RGB: (239, 51, 64)
- HEX: #EF3340
- CMYK: (0, 86, 63, 0)
- Pantone: 186 C

Format and proportions
The Belgian flag has a rectangular format with three vertical stripes.
Flag proportions
The official aspect ratio of the flag is 13:15, which makes it slightly wider than most flags in the world.
Stripes arrangement
- The left stripe is black.
- The central stripe is yellow.
- The right stripe is red.
When the flag is hung vertically, the colors remain in the same order from top to bottom.

Interesting facts about the flag of Belgium
- Similarity to the German flag: Although the Belgian flag has the same colors as the German flag, the order of the colors and the vertical design make it unique.
- Regional flags: Each of Belgium’s three regions (Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels) has its own flags, but the national flag remains a symbol of unity.
- Rare proportions: The 13:15 proportions are quite unusual for national flags, which emphasizes its uniqueness.
The Belgian flag is not only a national symbol, but also an embodiment of the country’s rich history, its struggle for independence and unity among its diverse regions. Its simple yet deeply symbolic design continues to represent Belgium on the international stage.