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Belgium

Belgian flag size calculator: flag size by pole length

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This page is an English translation of the Dutch original. Where the two versions differ, the Dutch text is the original.

What size of flag suits a flagpole? In Belgium, no law or authority sets this. The calculator below shows common values: the nearest standard size in the table of a Belgian flag supplier, the size by the rule of thumb in the 2:3 proportion, and the same height in the 13:15 proportion that is in use for the Belgian tricolour.

Calculator

metres
Nearest standard size
150 × 225 cm
Height × length, table of a Belgian flag supplier for a 6 to 7 m pole
By the rule of thumb (2:3)
150 × 225 cm
Flag height about a quarter of the pole’s length, proportions 2:3
Same height in 13:15 proportions
150 × 173 cm
The almost square proportions in use for the Belgian tricolour

How the calculation works

  • Nearest standard size: the size from the table of the supplier DVC Signstore for the chosen pole length. The table starts at a 5 metre pole and goes up to 11 metres.
  • Rule of thumb (2:3): the height of the flag is about a quarter of the pole length, rounded to 5 cm, and the length is one and a half times the height.
  • 13:15 proportion: the same height, with a length of 15/13 times the height. This is how an almost square tricolour looks on the same pole.

The length of the pole is its height above the ground, without the part in the foundation. More on height is in the guide on flagpole heights.

When a different size is common

  • Several flags side by side: according to circular VR 2015/37, they have the same size on Flemish public buildings. The size for the shortest pole then often sets the size for all flags.
  • A lot of wind: at the coast or on open ground, owners sometimes choose a smaller flag, which wears less and puts less load on the pole.
  • Façade pole: smaller flags hang from an angled façade pole, for example 60 × 90 cm or 100 × 150 cm.
  • Manufacturer's rating: the pole's manufacturer states which flag size the pole can take. That rating takes precedence over the rule of thumb.

More on common sizes and proportions is in the guide on flag sizes.

Frequently asked questions

How does the calculator work out the flag size?

The calculator uses the table and rule of thumb of a Belgian flag supplier: the height of the flag is about a quarter of the length of the pole. The length follows from the 2:3 proportion, and in the third box from the 13:15 proportion.

Why does the calculator show two proportions?

Two proportions are in use for the Belgian tricolour: 2:3, the common shape in the trade, and 13:15, an almost square shape. The Constitution does not set the proportion.

Is the calculator's result a requirement?

No. Belgium has no legal rule on flag sizes. The calculator shows common values. The pole's manufacturer states which flag size the pole, the halyard and the pulley can take.

Sources

This guide is based on the following sources, most of them in Dutch:

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