Flag types in Belgium: from the tricolour to municipal flags
Published Written by Flagpole Guides
This page is an English translation of the Dutch original. Where the two versions differ, the Dutch text is the original.
Because of the structure of the Belgian state, more official flags fly in Belgium than in most countries. Besides the national tricolour, the communities, the regions, the provinces and the municipalities each have their own flag. Then there are the European flag, theme flags and advertising flags. This guide gives an overview.
The Belgian tricolour
According to Belgium.be, the national flag consists of three vertical bands of black, yellow and red, with the black next to the pole. Article 193 of the Constitution names the colours in the order red, yellow and black, but says nothing about the direction, the order of the bands or the proportions.
Two proportions are in use. The almost square 13:15 is often cited as the proportion of the national flag, but its origin is unclear and it appears neither in the Constitution nor in the royal decree on flag flying. The proportion 2:3 is the shape Belgian flag suppliers offer most, for example in the sizes 120 × 180 and 150 × 225 cm. More on sizes is in the guide on flag sizes.
The flags of the communities and regions
| Flag | Description | Proportions |
|---|---|---|
| Flemish Community | Yellow with a black lion, clawed and tongued red | Not set in the decree |
| French Community | Yellow with a red cockerel (coq hardi) | 2:3 under the 1991 decree |
| Walloon Region | Yellow with a red cockerel (coq hardi) | 2:3 under the 1998 decree |
| German-speaking Community | White with a red lion and nine blue cinquefoils | Not set in the decree |
| Brussels-Capital Region | Blue with an iris with yellow petals and a grey heart, edged in white | Shown in the annexes to the ordinance |
The cockerel of Wallonia and the French Community is a coq hardi: a cockerel with its right leg raised and its beak closed. The decrees describe exactly how it sits within an invisible circle on the flag. The French Community and the Walloon Region also have a pennant in the proportions 26:30, with a yellow and red fringe, which senior officials may use as a mark of honour.
The Brussels flag was redesigned in 2015: the ordinance of 12 February 2015 replaced the original yellow iris with an iris with a grey heart.
Provincial and municipal flags
The Flemish decree of 21 December 1994 regulates the arms and flag of the provinces and municipalities. According to circular VR 2015/37, the provincial and municipal flags rank fourth and fifth in the order of precedence and may be flown on the days on which the Belgian, Flemish and European flags are flown. According to the circular, municipalities and provinces are free to fly flags permanently.
The European flag
The European flag, twelve gold stars in a circle on a blue background, is flown next to the Belgian flag on most federal flag days under the royal decree of 5 July 1974. More on this is in the guide on foreign flags in Belgium.
Theme flags, advertising flags and banners
- Theme flags are, according to circular VR 2015/37, not official flags but flags for a special occasion, such as a festival.
- Advertising flags with a company logo fly at businesses, shops and events. In Flanders they fall under the Advertising Regulation. More on this is in the guide on flagpoles for businesses.
- Banner flags hang vertically from a crossbar at the top of the pole and stay visible even in light wind.
- Society banners of associations, veterans' groups and archery guilds are carried in processions and at ceremonies.
Indoor and outdoor flags
An outdoor flag is usually made of polyester and has a reinforced hem on the fly end. Indoor flags, such as those in a council chamber or a classroom, are often made of satin or a thinner fabric, sometimes with a fringe. More on choosing a flag and what affects the price is in the guide on the price of a flag.
Frequently asked questions
What proportions does the Belgian flag have?
The Constitution sets only the colours, not the proportions. Two proportions are in use: 13:15, an almost square shape often cited as the proportion of the national flag, and 2:3, the proportion most common in the trade.
Are the Walloon flag and the flag of the French Community the same?
They look the same: a red cockerel on a yellow background, in the proportions 2:3. Legally they are two flags, set out in the Walloon decree of 23 July 1998 and the French Community's decree of 3 July 1991.
Do Flemish provinces and municipalities have their own flag?
Yes. The decree of 21 December 1994 regulates the arms and flag of the provinces and municipalities. According to circular VR 2015/37, the provincial and municipal flags may be flown on the days on which the Belgian, Flemish and European flags are flown.
What is a theme flag?
According to circular VR 2015/37, a theme flag is not an official flag, but a flag made for a special occasion, for example with the symbol of a festival. Its position depends on the other flags being flown.
Sources
This guide is based on the following sources, most of them in Dutch:
- Belgian flags – Belgium.be
- The Belgian Constitution, article 193 – Belgian Chamber of Representatives
- Decreet houdende vaststelling van het wapen, de vlag, het volkslied en de feestdag van de Vlaamse Gemeenschap – Codex Vlaanderen
- Décret du 3 juillet 1991 déterminant le jour de fête et les emblèmes propres à la Communauté française de Belgique – Parliament of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation
- Décret du 23 juillet 1998 déterminant le jour de fête et les emblèmes propres à la Région wallonne – Wallex (Public Service of Wallonia)
- Dekret vom 1. Oktober 1990 betreffend die Einführung des Festtages, des Wappens und der Fahne der Deutschsprachigen Gemeinschaft – Ministry of the German-speaking Community
- Ordonnantie van 16 mei 1991 houdende vaststelling van het embleem en de vlag van het Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest – Justel (FPS Justice)
- Omzendbrief VR 2015/37 over de bevlagging van de openbare gebouwen – Flemish Government
Related guides
- Flag symbolismWhere black, yellow and red come from, what article 193 of the Constitution says, why the bands are vertical and what the lion, cockerel and iris stand for.
- Flag sizesCommon flag sizes in Belgium, the 2:3 and 13:15 proportions of the tricolour, the rule of thumb for a flag on a pole and flags on façade poles.
- Flag rulesThe rules for flying flags in Belgium: the royal decree of 1974, the decrees of the communities and regions, and flag flying by private individuals.
- Price of a flagWhat affects the price of a flag in Belgium: fabric, size, printing, finishing and fixings, plus the legal guarantee and the right of withdrawal.