The flag of Belgium is unique and inimitable due to its size, which differs from the state symbols of other countries. In the Kingdom, this banner is very revered, because it symbolizes victory in the struggle for independence. Even local legislation provides that it must rise above all public buildings without exception during various holidays.
Options
Speaking about which flag of Belgium, first of all, it should be noted that it is a rectangular panel. Its parties are correlated as 13 to 15. At the same time, the country's constitution does not prohibit the use of 2 to 3 proportions, but only if it is used for civilian purposes. In the capital of the state of Brussels, above the building of the Royal Palace, a banner is hung with an aspect ratio of 4 to 3. The fact is that, according to local residents, this proportion provides the aesthetic beauty of the banner for people who look at it from the bottom up.
Civic flag
The civil flag of Belgium was adopted after the end of the revolution, in 1831. As a result, the Kingdom of Belgium appeared, formed as a result of the separation of the southern provinces from the Netherlands. The banner consists of three vertical stripes (black, gold and red, if you count from the pole), having the same width. This color was similar to the flag under which the revolutionaries fought in 1798 in Brabant. It was then that a debut attempt was made to proclaim an independent state and complete liberation from Austria's rule. The Belgian states failed to survive for one year, but this fact had a significant impact on the further development of the region.
It should be noted that only the coloring was borrowed from the Brabant banner. The stripes on it were horizontal (the top was red, the middle was black and the bottom was gold). Vertical placement was officially fixed on January 23, 1831 by the relevant decree of the interim government. Two weeks later, this decision was enshrined in one of the articles of the national constitution.
Government flag
The government flag of Belgium, in comparison with the civilian version, has one difference. It consists in the fact that the image of a lion and a crown standing on its hind legs is plotted on a golden strip. In 1950, he officially received the status of a state symbol. Until that moment, such a flag was the banner of the country's navy. Currently, the ships of the state go along the white panel, which is crossed by the cross of St. Andrew. In the upper part there is an image of the crown and crossed cannons of black color, and below the anchor.
State symbol inside Belgium
The national flag of Belgium in the country can be found quite often. It is hung on the buildings of many shops, hotels, gas stations and other structures. As for official institutions, it is often here that the government version of the national symbol with a lion standing on its hind legs is used.
State emblem
The coat of arms, like the flag of Belgium, is one of the state symbols of the country. In its modern form, it was approved by the decree of the king in 1837. According to this document, the use of its small and large form is envisaged. In the predominant majority of cases, it is the first option that consists of the Brabant coat of arms, the order of the cross of Leopold, the crown of the Grand Duke, two golden scepters and a red ribbon, which is inscribed on it, which literally means: “Strength gives unity”. The large coat of arms used similar attributes, with the addition of two Belgian lions, a canopy, a golden helmet and the banners of nine local provinces. This emblem is used extremely rarely - only on laws and international treaties.