Introduction

The flag of The Hague, the seat of government of the Netherlands, is a distinctive horizontal tricolor of yellow and green. Its design is officially described as three stripes of equal height, arranged in the sequence yellow-green-yellow. This simple yet bold color combination makes it immediately recognizable among Dutch municipal flags.

The flag's colors are derived directly from the city's official coat of arms, creating a strong visual link between the two symbols of civic identity. Unlike many historical Dutch flags, it does not feature a canton, coat of arms, or other central emblem, relying solely on its striking color bars for impact.

Its clean, modern appearance reflects the city's role as an international center for peace and justice, while its colors have deep historical roots in the region's heraldry.

Meaning & Symbolism

The yellow and green colors are heraldic tinctures directly taken from the city's coat of arms. In heraldic terms, yellow represents the metal Or (gold), while green represents the tincture Vert. These are the livery colors of the city.

The specific symbolism of the colors is historically tied to the House of Wassenaer, an ancient and influential Dutch noble family. The green and gold are believed to originate from their family arms, which historically held the lordship of the area. The flag thus serves as a banner of arms in a simplified, striped form, representing the city's long-standing governance and heritage.

History of the The Hague Flag

The current flag was officially adopted by the municipal council on December 21, 1949. This adoption formalized a color scheme with deep historical precedence. The choice of yellow and green can be traced back centuries to the city's coat of arms, which itself is documented from at least the 14th century.

While the striped design is modern, its heraldic basis ensures continuity with the city's medieval origins and its association with the local nobility. The post-World War II adoption date aligns with a period when many Dutch municipalities formally standardized their civic symbols.

Curiosities

  • The flag is one of the few major city flags in the world to use only two colors in a tricolor format, creating a unique 'sandwich' effect.
  • Despite The Hague being the seat of the Dutch government and royalty, its flag does not incorporate the national color orange or the royal color blue, emphasizing its distinct municipal identity.
  • The flag's colors are sometimes informally described as representing the city's parks (green) and sandy beaches (yellow).

Download Flag

Download the flag of The Hague in high-quality SVG vector format or PNG raster images. SVG files can be scaled to any size without losing quality.

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Construction Sheet

The flag has a 2:3 proportion. It is divided into three horizontal stripes of equal height. The top and bottom stripes are yellow, and the central stripe is green. No other emblems or charges are present on the field.

Flags Similar to The Hague Flag

Lithuania Flag Lithuania horizontal tricolor Malaysia Flag Malaysia stripes with canton Burkina Faso Flag Burkina Faso horizontal stripes Brazil Flag Brazil yellow/green, but with emblem Jamaica Flag Jamaica yellow/green/black diagonal cross

Common Misidentifications

Rarely misidentified due to its unique two-color tricolor pattern, but may be loosely associated with other green and yellow national flags from a distance.