Europe Flag Quiz Challenge

Albania’s red flag with a black double‑headed eagle traces to the banner used by national hero Skanderbeg during his revolt against the Ottomans (raised at Krujë, 1443). The Byzantine‑derived eagle symbolized sovereignty and the unification of Albanian clans. After independence on 28 November 1912, the emblem became the national flag. A five‑pointed red star was added above the eagle during the communist period (1946–1992). On 7 April 1992, post‑communist Albania restored the historic eagle without communist symbols, standardizing the deep red field. Red stands for bravery and sacrifice; black evokes freedom and the eagle’s vigilance. Read more

Andorra’s tricolor (blue‑yellow‑red) dates to 1866, when a blue stripe was added to the earlier Spanish‑style yellow‑red to reflect French influence. The coat of arms in the center unites the co‑princes (Bishop of Urgell and Count of Foix) with Catalonia and Béarn; the motto ‘Virtus Unita Fortior’ (‘United virtue is stronger’) appears below. Stripe proportions are 8:9:8 with a 10:7 flag ratio. The 1993 constitution confirmed the flag and arms, mirroring the microstate’s dual heritage between France and Spain. Read more

Austria’s red‑white‑red is among Europe’s oldest flags, documented in 1230 and associated with the Babenberg dynasty. A popular legend credits Duke Leopold V’s blood‑stained tunic during the 1191 Siege of Acre. After the Habsburg era, the tricolor became the republic’s flag in 1918. Regime changes in 1934–1938 and the Nazi annexation interrupted use; Austria restored the red‑white‑red in 1945. The bands carry traditional, not legal, symbolism—often read as sacrifice (red) and peace or purity (white). Read more

The flag of Belarus features a red over green horizontal layout with a vertical red‑and‑white ornamental pattern at the hoist. Adopted on 7 June 1995 after a national referendum, it replaced the white‑red‑white flag used in 1991–1995. The ornament is based on a traditional woven motif; red recalls sacrifice and historical struggle, while green symbolizes hope and Belarus’s forests and fields. The proportions are 1:2, with the ornament occupying one‑ninth of the flag’s length and always placed at the hoist in both horizontal and vertical display. The state strictly regulates usage by decree, defining shades, materials, and protocol. The design deliberately omits Soviet marks used in the Byelorussian SSR flag (1951–1991) yet preserves the ornamental tradition, making the current flag a legally protected emblem of sovereignty and cultural heritage. Read more

Belgium’s black‑yellow‑red dates to the 1830 revolution against Dutch rule. Rebels revived Brabant’s colors (a gold lion with red claws on black) as a tricolor. Initially horizontal, the stripes were set vertical in January 1831, with black at the hoist from October 1831. The 1831 constitution fixed the national colors. Black often denotes steadfastness, yellow nobility, and red courage; the palette echoes the historic Duchy of Brabant. Read more

Bosnia and Herzegovina’s flag—adopted on 4 February 1998—shows a golden right triangle on a blue field with a diagonal line of seven white five‑pointed stars and two half‑stars along the hypotenuse. Imposed by the High Representative after local parties failed to agree, the design signals neutrality and European orientation: the triangle is read as the three constituent peoples and the territory’s form; the stars suggest Europe and continuity. Protocol is set by state law for government display and international use, while entity flags are used in regional contexts. Read more

Bulgaria’s flag is a horizontal tricolour of white, green, and red. First codified in 1879 after liberation from Ottoman rule, it echoed the Russian white‑blue‑red while substituting green to reflect national identity and the land. Under communist rule a state emblem was added and removed in 1991 when the plain tricolour was restored. Law defines a 2:3 ratio, respectful use, and colour order; the flag is prominent on national days such as 3 March (Liberation Day). Read more

Croatia’s flag displays red, white, and blue horizontal bands with the distinctive šahovnica (checkerboard) coat of arms centered and a crown of five smaller shields above. Adopted on 21 December 1990 as the socialist emblem was removed, the design draws on the 1848 Pan‑Slavic palette and Croatia’s historic regions. Law fixes proportions and usage, with the civil, state, and military standards differentiated by heraldic details. Read more

The flag of Cyprus (adopted 16 August 1960) shows a copper‑orange silhouette of the island above two crossed green olive branches on white. Designed by İsmet Güney under bi‑communal rules barring Greek or Turkish national colours and symbols, it signals peace and neutrality: white for peace, copper for mineral wealth, olive branches for reconciliation. Proportions are 3:2, and law regulates size, placement, and official use. Partition since 1974 has complicated practice, but the official flag remains the symbol of the Republic of Cyprus internationally. Read more

The Czech Republic’s flag—two horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a blue triangle at the hoist—derives from Czechoslovakia’s 1920 design. The white and red reflect Bohemian heraldry; blue evokes Moravia and the pan‑Slavic palette. After 1992’s dissolution, the Czech Republic retained the flag, with law fixing a 2:3 ratio, colour shades, and vertical display (triangle upper left). Protocol prescribes official use on state buildings, holidays, and diplomatic occasions, forbidding desecration and improper handling. Read more

Denmark’s Dannebrog—a white Nordic cross on red—is the world’s oldest continuously used national flag. Legend ties its origin to 1219 at Lindanise; documentary evidence of a white cross on red appears from the 14th century. State regulations in 1625 and the 1748 decree fixed continuous use and proportions with the offset Christian cross. The design later inspired other Nordic flags. Read more

Estonia’s sinimustvalge tricolour—blue, black, white—was first consecrated in 1884 by the Estonian Students’ Society, became the national flag in 1918, was banned under Soviet rule, and was restored in 1990–1991. Blue symbolizes sky and loyalty; black the soil and historical trials; white purity and striving for freedom. Proportions are 7:11 with legally specified shades, flag days, and protocols for respectful handling and half‑masting across the republic and its missions abroad. Read more

Finland’s ‘Blue Cross Flag’ (Siniristilippu) bears a blue Nordic cross on a white field. Adopted in 1918 after independence from Russia, it replaced earlier banners of the Grand Duchy. White symbolizes snow and purity; blue evokes lakes and skies. Two principal forms exist: the civil flag (plain cross) and the state flag (with coat of arms). Law fixes proportions, colours, flag days, and respectful handling. Since adoption, the design has remained unchanged, with naval and presidential variants used in specific state contexts. Read more

France’s Tricolore arose from the Revolution. In 1789 Paris adopted blue‑red cockades; Lafayette added white for the monarchy, uniting nation and crown. A tricolour was approved in 1790, and on 15 February 1794 the National Convention fixed vertical bands—blue at the hoist, then white and red—for naval and national use. The Bourbon Restoration (1815–1830) replaced it with a white royal flag, but the 1830 July Revolution re‑established the Tricolore. In 1976 official shades were standardized. Blue recalls Paris and liberty, white links to the monarchy and equality in republican symbolism, and red evokes fraternity and revolutionary sacrifice; together they represent the enduring pact between civic ideals and national identity. Read more

Germany’s black–red–gold tricolor traces to the 19th‑century push for unity and liberty. Adopted by the Frankfurt Parliament during the 1848 revolution, it symbolized democratic aspirations and drew on the Lützow Free Corps’ colors from the Napoleonic Wars. The Weimar Republic restored the tricolor in 1919 after the empire, which had flown black–white–red from 1871. The Nazi regime abolished black–red–gold, but West Germany re‑adopted it in 1949 to affirm democracy; East Germany used the same tricolor with a state emblem from 1959. Upon reunification in 1990, black–red–gold became the single national flag. Interpretations vary, but the colors broadly represent freedom, unity, and republican ideals, with historical associations to volunteer corps uniforms and liberal nationalism. Read more

Greece adopted blue and white flags during the War of Independence. On 15 March 1822, a white cross on blue (land) and a naval ensign of nine blue‑white stripes with a cross canton were approved. In 1978 the striped flag became the sole national flag. The cross symbolizes Orthodoxy; blue and white evoke the Aegean sea and sky and the nation’s faith. Read more

Hungary’s national flag is a horizontal tricolour of red, white, and green. Emerging from the 1848 revolution and rooted in medieval heraldic colours, it was reaffirmed in 1946 and remains unchanged in core design. Red signifies strength and sacrifice, white faithfulness and freedom, and green hope. Proportions are 1:2, with legal standards for colours, respectful use, vertical display, and variants bearing the historical coat of arms for state and military contexts. Read more

Iceland’s flag is a blue field with a red Nordic cross outlined in white, officially established for national use in 1915 and confirmed upon the Republic’s proclamation in 1944. Its colours symbolize the island’s landscape: blue for mountains and ocean, white for snow and ice, and red for volcanic fire. Law fixes proportions, shades, and usage; naval and presidential variants exist. The design situates Iceland firmly within the Nordic cross tradition while asserting a distinct geological and cultural identity. Read more

The flag of Ireland consists of three equal vertical stripes of green, white, and orange. Officially recognized by the 1937 Constitution, it originated in 1848 when Thomas Francis Meagher introduced it as a symbol of reconciliation—green for Catholic nationalists, orange for Protestant unionists, and white for the hope of peace between them. After the Easter Rising of 1916 and the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922, the tricolour gained prominence as a national emblem. Protocol requires the green stripe at the hoist and respectful handling at all times. Variations in shade have appeared historically, but the design has remained stable. The tricolour is central to state ceremonies and public life and is widely displayed during national occasions, notably St Patrick’s Day, as a symbol of sovereignty and the aspiration to unity across the island. Read more

Italy’s tricolore began with the Cispadane Republic on 7 January 1797 at Reggio Emilia, adopting green‑white‑red influenced by revolutionary cockades and French models. Napoleonic client states, including the Cisalpine Republic and the Italian Republic, entrenched the palette, settling on vertical bands by 1798. After unification in 1861, the Kingdom of Italy used the tricolor with the Savoy shield. In 1946, following the referendum ending the monarchy, the Republic adopted the plain tricolore, which the Constitution defined on 1 January 1948 as three equal vertical bands—green at the hoist, white, and red. Common symbolism links green to hope and landscapes, white to faith and Alpine snows, and red to charity and the blood shed for unity. Read more

Kosovo’s flag—adopted on 17 February 2008—shows a golden silhouette of Kosovo beneath an arc of six white five‑pointed stars on a blue field. Selected via public competition at independence, the design’s colours nod to European heraldry; the six stars represent Kosovo’s principal ethnic communities. Statutes define proportions, colour references, the map’s placement, and protocols for state, military, and diplomatic use. The flag appears across institutions and at missions abroad, while municipalities may display local flags alongside it under national precedence. Read more

Latvia’s flag features a deep carmine red field bisected by a narrow white horizontal stripe. First recorded in a 13th‑century chronicle and re‑adopted after independence, it was legally established on 15 June 1921, banned under Soviet rule (1940–1990), and restored in February 1990 ahead of the 1991 re‑establishment of independence. The red symbolizes sacrifice and resolve; the white denotes truth and honor. Law fixes a 2:1 ratio and precise stripe widths (the white band at one‑fifth of height) with strict protocols for display on state buildings, flag days, half‑masting, and dignified retirement. The unique ‘Latvian red’ shade and narrow central stripe distinguish the design, which serves today across government, diplomacy, and public life as a resilient emblem of national identity. Read more

Liechtenstein’s flag consists of blue over red with a gold crown at the hoist. Blue is often read as the alpine sky; red as the glow of hearth and community. The bicolour dates to princely livery colours used in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. After Liechtenstein discovered at the 1936 Olympics that its flag matched Haiti’s, the principality added the crown in 1937 to assert sovereign distinction and constitutional monarchy. Protocol requires the crown nearest the hoist; correct ratios and shades are prescribed; commercial exploitation is restricted. The flag appears on National Day (15 August), over ministries, and at diplomatic posts, and is handled with strict dignity. Simple in geometry yet steeped in dynastic history, the flag declares the continuity of one of Europe’s smallest sovereign states—an Alpine microstate whose identity bridges princely heritage, civic cohesion, and modern neutrality. Read more

Lithuania’s flag is a horizontal tricolour of yellow, green, and red. Proposed in 1917–1918 and adopted on 25 April 1918, it was widely used until Soviet annexation in 1940, then suppressed and replaced by SSR designs. Re‑legalized in March 1988 and reinstated by law in 1989, it preceded the 11 March 1990 restoration of independence. A 5:3 ratio with equal bands is prescribed; protocols fix flag days, co‑display, half‑masting, and dignified retirement. Yellow symbolizes sun and light, green forests and renewal, and red courage and sacrifice. The tricolour anchors civic identity across state, diplomatic, and public settings. Read more

Luxembourg’s national flag is a horizontal tricolour of red, white, and a light sky blue. Used informally since the 19th century and connected to the grand‑ducal arms, it was given a precise legal definition on 23 June 1972, fixing a 1:2 ratio and standardized shades (notably a lighter blue than the Dutch flag). The tricolour expresses the Grand Duchy’s sovereignty, while a distinct civil ensign featuring the ‘Roude Léiw’ (red lion) is used at sea to avoid confusion. Protocol regulates vertical display, order of precedence, half‑masting, and dignified retirement. The flag’s continuity links medieval heraldry (red lion on blue‑white barrulets) with the modern constitutional state and helps differentiate Luxembourg’s identity in the heart of Europe despite visual similarity to the Netherlands’ banner. Read more

Malta’s flag is a vertical bicolour of white (hoist) and red with a representation of the George Cross, edged in red, in the upper hoist canton. Adopted at independence on 21 September 1964 and retained by the 1974 republic, it links medieval Hospitaller colours to modern valor: the George Cross was awarded collectively in 1942 for wartime bravery. Law fixes a 2:3 (commonly 3:5 or 2:3) ratio, orientation, and the George Cross’s drawing and placement; protocol governs order of precedence, half‑masting, and dignified retirement. The design is unique among sovereign flags in displaying this British gallantry decoration as a national emblem of unity and resilience. Read more

Moldova’s flag is a vertical tricolour of blue, yellow, and red with the state arms—eagle, cross, scepter and olive branch, and the aurochs shield—centred in the yellow stripe. Adopted on 27 April 1990 ahead of independence (1991), it acknowledges cultural ties to Romania while asserting distinct statehood through the arms. Statutes specify 1:2 ratio, colour standards, state/civil use, and etiquette for public display and mourning. Read more

Monaco’s flag is a minimalist horizontal bicolour: red over white, adopted by sovereign ordinance in 1881. The colours descend from the heraldry of the House of Grimaldi, rulers of the principality since the thirteenth century. Despite frequent confusion with Indonesia’s (different ratio) and Poland’s (colours inverted), Monaco’s design predates both modern versions. Strict protocols regulate display on government buildings and during National Day (19 November). At sea, distinct state and civil ensigns incorporating the arms prevent confusion. Unauthorized commercial use is discouraged, and princely personal standards are reserved for the Sovereign and family. The continuity of the red‑white banner mirrors Monaco’s emphasis on dynastic stability and legal precision in state symbols. Read more

Montenegro’s flag is a red field with a gold border and the state coat of arms—a crowned double‑headed eagle with orb and scepter and a blue shield bearing a golden lion—at centre. Adopted on 13 July 2004 in the run‑up to renewed independence (2006), it revives royal and Orthodox heraldry. Law fixes ratios, border width, arms size/position, and etiquette across state, military, and civil use. Read more

The Dutch tricolor evolved from the sixteenth‑century Prince’s Flag of orange‑white‑blue, flown for William of Orange during the revolt against Spain. By the early 1600s the orange band shifted to **red**—likely for dye stability and sea visibility—creating the red‑white‑blue ‘States Flag.’ A royal decree of 19 February 1937 confirmed these colors as the national flag. Read more

North Macedonia’s flag is a red field charged with a stylised golden sun with eight broadening rays, officially adopted on 5 October 1995. Called the ‘Sun of Liberty,’ it replaced the 1992 design that bore the ancient Vergina Sun following an interim accord with Greece. The current emblem avoids claims to Greek heritage while preserving solar symbolism long present in Macedonian iconography. Law specifies proportions, colour tones, and the sun’s geometry and placement; protocol governs respectful handling, co‑display, and mourning. The design followed decades under Yugoslav symbols, and, before that, partisan and regional banners. Today it is a distinct, modern emblem recognised in international fora, on state buildings, and across civic life. Read more

Norway’s flag is a red field bearing a blue Nordic cross outlined in white, extending to the edges. Designed by Fredrik Meltzer and introduced in 1821, it situates Norway within the Nordic cross tradition while marking independence after union-era symbols. A ‘union mark’ was added in 1844 during the Swedish union and removed in 1899–1905 as Norway achieved full sovereignty. Red, white, and blue echo 19th‑century ideals of liberty. Protocol prescribes hoisting times, half‑masting, and variants for state and naval use. The design has remained unchanged since the peaceful dissolution of the union with Sweden in 1905. Read more

Poland’s white‑over‑red bicolor derives from the Piast arms—a white crowned eagle on a red shield. The Sejm designated white and red as national colors on 7 May 1792; the modern flag was adopted on 1 August 1919 and reaffirmed by the 1980 act on national symbols. The state flag adds the white‑eagle arms on the upper stripe; the civil flag is plain. Read more

Portugal’s green‑and‑red flag was introduced in 1911 after the 5 October 1910 republican revolution, replacing the royal blue‑white. Centered over the color boundary is the armillary sphere—evoking the Age of Discoveries—charged with the national shield (Order of Christ cross, five quinas, seven castles). Green stands for hope; red recalls sacrifice for the republic. Read more

Romania’s national flag is a vertical tricolour of blue, yellow, and red with blue at the hoist. Rooted in the 1848 revolutionary movements and the colours of Wallachia and Moldavia, it was standardized in 1867 and reaffirmed after independence. Under communism (1948–1989) a state emblem was added and later excised during the 1989 Revolution. Law now prescribes respectful use, 2:3 proportions, and the colour order. The tricolour symbolizes liberty, justice, and fraternity in official interpretations. Read more

Russia’s flag is a horizontal tricolour of white, blue, and red, restored as the state flag in 1991 after the Soviet period and standardised by law in 1993. Its origins trace to the late 17th century and Peter the Great’s merchant ensigns. The tricolour served the Russian Empire until 1917–1918, returned briefly in the 1917 provisional period, and was re‑adopted after the USSR’s dissolution. Protocol codifies proportions (commonly 2:3), colour standards, co‑display, and respectful handling. Read more

San Marino’s flag shows white over light blue with the republic’s coat of arms—three towers on Monte Titano, flanked by laurel and oak and the motto Libertas—centred. Adopted in 1862 amid Italian unification, it asserts the micro‑republic’s ancient autonomy. Statutes govern state and civil versions, colour shades, and ceremonial display on September 3 (Founding Day). Etiquette forbids defacement and commercial misuse. The design expresses an old claim: liberty sustained by institutions older than most European states. Read more

Serbia’s flag comprises horizontal bands of red, blue, and white with the national coat of arms placed left of centre. Its colours derive from the Pan‑Slavic palette and banners used since the early 19th century. The current legal form was finalized in the 2000s after the state union with Montenegro ended, with the civil flag omitting the arms. Protocol governs proportions, state and military standards, and respectful use on national occasions such as Statehood Day (15 February). Read more

Slovakia’s flag is a horizontal tricolour of white, blue, and red bearing the national coat of arms toward the hoist. Formally established on 1 September 1992 ahead of independence (1 January 1993), it draws on 19th‑century Pan‑Slavic colours while the arms—silver double cross on three blue hills—invoke Great Moravian and medieval heritage. Law fixes a 2:3 ratio, exact shades, the arms’ geometry and placement, and flag etiquette for state, diplomatic, and public use. The arms distinguish Slovakia from similar tricolours (Russia, Slovenia) in international display. Read more

Slovenia’s flag presents three equal horizontal bands of white, blue, and red with the national coat of arms—Triglav, wavy lines for rivers/sea, and three golden stars of the Counts of Celje—near the hoist. First raised in 1848 and legally adopted at independence on 27 June 1991 (with 1994 law detailing standards), it aligns with Pan‑Slavic colours while the arms distinguish it from related tricolours. Protocol specifies a 1:2 ratio, arms geometry/placement, co‑display, half‑masting, and dignified retirement across state, diplomatic, and public use. Read more

Spain’s rojigualda originated in 1785 when Charles III selected a red‑yellow‑red naval ensign for sea visibility, breaking with white Bourbon flags. In 1843 the design became national across the armed forces. The Second Republic (1931–1939) introduced a red‑yellow‑purple tricolor; after the Civil War, Franco restored the rojigualda and altered coats of arms several times. The current flag, with the modern national arms representing historic kingdoms and the Pillars of Hercules, was standardized in 1981 under the 1978 Constitution. Red and yellow are associated with strength, valor, and Spain’s heraldic traditions; the arms synthesize Castile, León, Aragon, Navarre, and Granada beneath the crown. Read more

Sweden’s blue flag with a golden Nordic cross emerged in the sixteenth century, influenced by the Danish Dannebrog and national arms of blue and gold. King John III specified a yellow cross in 1569. The 1906 Flag Law defined official proportions and shades; the swallow‑tailed version is the state flag, the rectangular form the civil flag. Read more

Switzerland’s flag is a red square charged with a bold white cross—one of only two square sovereign flags. Standardized in 1889 for civilian and military use, it draws on the fourteenth‑century battle signs of the Old Swiss Confederacy and the federal cross adopted in 1815. The white cross signifies Christian heritage, unity, and neutrality; the red field recalls sacrifice for liberty. Its inverse inspired the emblem of the International Red Cross, founded in Geneva in 1863. Strict protocols govern display and proportions. Read more

Ukraine’s flag features two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and yellow (bottom), restored as the national flag on 28 January 1992 after independence. The colours draw on medieval Ruthenian heraldry and nineteenth‑century national movements, and symbolise blue skies over wheat fields in popular interpretation. Law fixes the 2:3 ratio, shades, and protocols for respectful use, with civil, state, and military variants defined for specific contexts. Read more

The Union Flag (Union Jack) originated in 1606 after the union of the crowns under James I, combining England’s red cross of St George with Scotland’s white saltire of St Andrew on blue to resolve maritime disputes and symbolize a shared monarchy. Following the political union in 1707 it served Great Britain, and in 1801, after the Act of Union joined Ireland, the design incorporated the red saltire of St Patrick, counterchanged with St Andrew’s white saltire, forming today’s tripartite union. Wales is not separately represented because it was annexed to England before the earlier unions. The arrangement preserves each nation’s emblem while expressing constitutional unity: red for England, white saltire and blue for Scotland, and red saltire for Ireland. The Union Flag is the national flag used by government and the public; by contrast, the Royal Standard represents the Sovereign personally and is flown only when the monarch is… Read more

Vatican City’s flag is a square vertical bicolour: gold (hoist) and white, with the crossed keys of Saint Peter and the papal tiara in the white panel. Codified with the Lateran Treaty in 1929, it inherits colours from earlier Papal States standards (gold and silver rendered as yellow and white). Protocol strictly limits use to Vatican institutions and nunciatures; the papal standard and other variants are reserved. The design asserts spiritual sovereignty distinct from Italy. Read more