Last modified: 2017-11-11 by klaus-michael schneider
Keywords: wassenberg | castle | lion(red) | towers(3) | embattled |
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Description of current flag:
The flag's ratio is 3:5. It is a blue over yellow horizontal bicolour. In the centre of the blue stripe is a golden castle, consisting of three embattled towers. The central tower is higher and broader and superimposed by a red, rampant lion.
Source: §2(3) of Hauptsatzung of the city of Wassenberg version 30 April 2008
Meaning:
The castle in the blue stripe is the current coat of arms without shield. The settlement of Wassenberg grew around a castle of the same name and gained city rights around 1250. According to Stadler the former arms were derived from the oldest seal from 1273 presenting a silver castle in a red field superimposed by an inescutcheon showing the arms of the lords of Wassenberg, a branch of the dukes of Limburg; i.e. a silver lion of Limburg, crowned golden, in a red shield. Another old seal from around 1300 only showed the lion. The colours of the field and castle had been taken from the colours of the inescutcheon.
The current arms were based upon the old arms. The colours of the field and castle are taken from the colours of Geldern. Due to the heraldic rules of tincture the colour of the lion had to be changed into red as silver was not possible.
Sources: Stadler 1972, p.97 and Ralf Hartemink's webpage
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 12 Dec 2011
Flag and coat of arms were approved by Regierungspräsident Köln on 21 August 1974.
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