The CIA World Factbook Every edition, 1990 to 2025 Europe

Flag Netherlands, in 36 editions.

The entry for Netherlands published Flag in 36 editions of 36, from 1990 to 2025. The text changed in 11 editions. Each is shown as published. Flag in every entry.

editions changed the text
11
the first edition with it
1990
the latest edition with it
2025

Published as “Flag” (1990 to 2025) and “Flag description” (1997 to 2024).

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe edition shownChoose an edition on the strip beside the text, or step through them with the arrows. Mark changes compares it with the edition before: the marks are ours, words added and words removed.

2011 edition

Same as 2010

Open the 2011 entry

The same text in 8 editions, 2009 to 2016.

Published as “Flag description”

  • three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue;
  • similar to the flag of Luxembourg, which uses a lighter blue and is longer;
  • the colors were those of WILLIAM I, Prince of Orange, who led the Dutch Revolt against Spanish sovereignty in the latter half of the 16th century;
  • originally the upper band was orange, but because it tended to fade to red over time, the red shade was eventually made the permanent color;
  • the banner is perhaps the oldest tricolor in continuous use

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue; similar to the flag of Luxembourg, which uses a lighter blue and is longer; one of the oldest flags in constant use, originating with colors were those of WILLIAM I, Prince of Orange, who led the Dutch Revolt against Spanish sovereignty in the latter half of the 16th century century; originally the upper band was orange, but because it tended to fade to red over time, the red shade was eventually made the permanent color; the banner is perhaps the oldest tricolor in continuous use

Cite this page

Central Intelligence Agency. “Netherlands: Flag.” The World Factbook, 1990–2025 editions. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/netherlands/flag.

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