Netherlands

The national flag of The Netherlands, with its three equal horizontal bands colored red (top), white and blue is the oldest tricolor still in use today. However, it was not the country’s first flag. When, at the end of the 15th century, the majority of the Netherlands provinces were united under one lord, one common flag came into use for joint expeditions. This was the banner of the Lord of Burgundy, which consisted of a white field charged with two bundles of red laurel branches in the form of an X, with flames issuing from the intersection: the Cross of Burgundy. Under the later House of Austria, this flag remained in use.