Flag of Norway

Norway's flag is red with a dark blue cross edged in white; the cross is set toward the pole, like other Nordic flags.

At a glance

Adopted: July 13, 1821approved for civilian use in 1821; the union mark was removed by an 1898 law and the pure flag first flew as the merchant and state flag in 1899
Shape (height : width): 8:11
Capital: Oslo
Continent: Europe
Colours: deep red
white
dark blue

What it means

Cross: Christianity, as on all the Nordic cross flags
Red, white and blue: chosen partly to show links with Denmark (red and white) and Sweden (blue)

Where it came from

The flag was designed in 1821 by Fredrik Meltzer, a member of the Norwegian parliament, the Storting. He took the Nordic cross shape from Denmark's flag and chose red, white and blue partly to reflect Norway's old union with Denmark and its new union with Sweden. The king approved it for civilian use on 13 July 1821.

History

From 1537 to 1814 Norway was united with Denmark and used the Danish flag. In 1814 it used the Danish flag with the royal arms in the corner for a short time.

Norway was then in a union with Sweden. From 1844 both countries put a union mark in the corner of their flags; people called it the herring salad because of its jumble of colours. A law in 1898 took it off the merchant and state flags, and the pure flag first flew in 1899.

Fun facts

The old union mark was nicknamed sildesalaten, the herring salad.
The law only says deep red and dark blue; it does not give exact shades.
The state flag used by the government has a swallowtail end.
The cross arms are measured in a strict pattern of 6, 1, 2, 1 and 12 units.

Easy to mix up with

Iceland: Iceland swaps the colours: a red cross edged in white on a blue field
Denmark: Denmark has a plain white cross on red, with no blue

Questions

What does the flag of Norway look like?

Norway's flag is red with a dark blue cross edged in white; the cross is set toward the pole, like other Nordic flags.

What do the colours and symbols on the flag of Norway mean?

Cross: Christianity, as on all the Nordic cross flags; Red, white and blue: chosen partly to show links with Denmark (red and white) and Sweden (blue).

When was the flag of Norway adopted?

The current flag of Norway was adopted on July 13, 1821. (approved for civilian use in 1821; the union mark was removed by an 1898 law and the pure flag first flew as the merchant and state flag in 1899)