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Historical Dutch royal flags (The Netherlands)

Flags up to 1908

Last modified: 2019-05-25 by rob raeside
Keywords: netherlands |
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[Former royal flag of the Netherlands] image by Mark Sensen, 13 November 2001
See also:

Royal flag until 1908

Before the present design the national tricolour with the royal arms (including crown and 2 supporting lions) was used.
Mark Sensen, 3 May 1997

Netherlands Standard: Royal flag until 1908, except with an older version of the Coat of Arms, with the shield black, and with a darker colour of blue. The shield should be blue, I think, but otherwise this image is probably better; the flag we have looks too modern for its age. (Source: Norie/Hobbs - Maritime Flags of All Nations, 1848).
Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 12 November 2001

The image above indeed shows the arms as modernized in 1907. Technically it's possible the flag as shown was used until one year later when the system of royal flags was completely revised, but I don't have evidence it was.
The image in Norie/Hobbs has a lot of errors, in fact the arms shown look more like the Belgian/Brabantian arms than the Dutch arms!
Mark Sensen, 13 November 2001

Indeed, this is now confirm by the Royal Household, who list the general flags as ending their existence in 1908. The blue and orange flags apparently took their place, with the distinction that each separately has to be specified by law.
Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 2 April 2019


King Willem I / King Willem II / King Willem III / Queen Wilhelmina / Queen-Widow Regentes Emma

[Flag of Five Rulers]
[Flag of Five Rulers] image by Mark Sensen, 30 March 2004
Adopted 16 March 1816, 7 September 1898

Princesses of the Royal House

[Princesses of the Royal House]
[Princesses of the Royal House] image by Mark Sensen, 30 March 2004
Adopted 7 September 1898, ceased to be used 1908.

Princes of the Royal House

[Princes of the Royal House]
[Princes of the Royal House] image by Mark Sensen, 30 March 2004
Adopted 7 September 1898, ceased to be used 1908.