Compare and Contrast: Flags

Now that I have been in Belgium for a couple weeks I think it's time to compare my experiences and write a bit about the similarities and differences between Belgium and The Netherlands.

First, let's start with their flags.  Before 1830, Belgium was part of The Netherlands. As such, the people of both regions shared a similar flag. But after the 1830 Belgian Revolution, when rebels hoisted the flag of France over the opera hall in Brussells, Belgium decided to chart its own nationalistic course, declaring independence from The Netherlands.

Horizontal red, white and blue flag
of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Officially adopted on 19 February 1937

Thus Belgium adopted the vertical stripes similar to the flag of France. But in typical Belgian fashion, they went their own way and used the colors from the crest of the Duchy of Brabant to distinguish themselves.

Vertical black, yellow and red flag
of the Kingdom of Belgium
Officially adopted on 23 January 1831

Black, yellow and red of The Brabant Lion
c. 1183

The Duchy of Brabant was carved out as a state of the Holy Roman Empire, dating back to the late 12th century. The Brabant Lion image goes back at least that far, and perhaps farther, as the primary symbol on the crest.

Red, blue and orange of the Dutch Republic Lion
c. 1668

The Netherlands also enjoys a lion symbol, in this case known as the Dutch Republic Lion or the States Lion. This image is also quite old, dating back to at least the 17th century, but there are seal antecedents dating to 1578 during the Dutch stadholders' Protestant battle for independence from the Catholic Hapsburgs. Remember William the Silent? That's the time period from which this official lion seal dates.

Seal of the States General, 1578