Foreign flags in Belgium

In Belgium, foreign flags fly at embassies, during state visits, at the buildings of international organisations in Brussels, at businesses with sites abroad and at the homes of people with ties to another country. There is no Belgian law on private individuals flying foreign flags. For public buildings, the Flemish circular VR 2015/37 gives the clearest guidance.

The place of a foreign flag

According to circular VR 2015/37, the other flags move back one place when a flag is placed among the official flags. The circular gives the example of the flag of a foreign state, which then goes on pole 2, after the Belgian flag. On a Flemish public building with three poles, during an official visit, this looks as follows:

1. the Belgian flag (pole 1, in the middle)
2. the foreign flag (pole 2, to the right of pole 1 with one's back to the building)
3. the Flemish flag (pole 3, to the left of pole 1)

The European flag then moves to pole 4. The numbering of the poles is explained in the guide on flag protocol.

State visits and official visits

The circular mentions that the authorities issue specific instructions for flag flying on special occasions, for example the official visit of a foreign head of state. These instructions apply to the public buildings concerned, often only in the city or along the route of the visit.

The European flag

Belgium is one of the founders of the European Communities, and Brussels is the seat of the main EU institutions. The European flag therefore has a fixed place in Belgian flag flying. The royal decree of 5 July 1974 names it on almost all federal flag days together with the Belgian flag, and on its own on 9 May and on the day of the European elections. In the Flemish order of precedence it comes third, after the Belgian and the Flemish flag.

According to the European Union, the Council of Europe chose the design of twelve gold stars on a blue background in 1955, and EU leaders adopted it in 1985 as the emblem of the European Communities. In May 1986 the flag was raised for the first time at the Berlaymont building in Brussels.

Foreign flags at homes and businesses

Private individuals and businesses fly foreign flags freely, for example during an international sports tournament, the visit of a foreign delegation or out of attachment to a country. Anyone flying the Belgian flag and a foreign flag together can use the Flemish order of precedence as a guide, with the Belgian flag in the place of honour.

It is customary for flags flying side by side to be the same size and at the same height. For the size, the circular sets this out explicitly for Flemish public buildings. More on this is in the guide on flag sizes.

Flags with different proportions

Many foreign flags have different proportions from the Belgian flag. The Swiss flag, for example, is square and the Danish flag has the proportions 28:37. When they fly side by side, it is customary to keep the same height, so that the flags do not look uneven. More on the proportions of the Belgian flag is in the guide on flag types.