Netherlands Flag vs Luxembourg Flag
Compare the Netherlands flag and Luxembourg flag side by side. Discover the key differences and why they look similar.
Netherlands
National FlagHorizontal tricolor: red on top, white in middle, blue on bottom.
Adopted: 1937
Ratio: 2:3
Colors: red, white, blue
Luxembourg
National FlagHorizontal tricolor: red on top, white in middle, light blue on bottom. Same layout as Netherlands but lighter blue.
Adopted: 1972
Ratio: 3:5
Colors: red, white, light blue
Key Differences
| Aspect | Netherlands | Luxembourg |
|---|---|---|
| Flag Type | National flag | National flag |
| Blue Shade | Darker ultramarine blue | Lighter sky blue |
| Aspect Ratio | 2:3 | 3:5 |
| Country | Netherlands | Luxembourg |
| Adoption Year | 1937 | 1972 |
Why Do the Netherlands and Luxembourg Flags Look Similar?
Both flags are horizontal tricolors with red on top, white in the middle, and blue on the bottom. The only difference is the shade of blue — Luxembourg uses a lighter, sky blue while the Netherlands uses a darker ultramarine. Luxembourg deliberately chose a lighter blue in 1972 to distinguish itself from the Dutch flag. The similarity stems from their shared history as part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands (1815–1830).
