The flag of the German-speaking Community of Belgium has a form of a white banner of arms depicting with a red lion surrounded by nine flowers. It was adopted on 25 November 1990.
Design The flag of the German-speaking Community of Belgium is a banner of arms of coat of arms of the region. It consists of the white background. In the centre is placed a red lion standing on its back legs with raised front paws and its tongue out. Around it are placed in a circle nine gentiana flowers that have five intense blue petals and white (silver) round centres. According to a drawing attached to the establishing decree prescribing the flag, it should be square with proportions 1:1 or 13:15, but it is always used with 2:3 proportions instead.Dekret betreffend die Einführung des Festtages, des Wappens und der Fahne der Deutschsprachigen Gemeinschaft. 1 October 1990.John Edwards; Ralph G. C. Bartlett: Flags of Aspirant Peoples. Flag Society of Australia. 1994.
The red lion alludes to the coat of arms of the Duchy of Luxemburg and the historical Duchy of Limburg, and symbolizes the historical affiliation of the German-speaking community to those states. The nine gentiana flowers represent the nine municipalities of the German-speaking community. Gentiana flowers grow in High Fens, an upland area and a nature reserve in the region.
History In 1989, there was a call for proposals for a flag and coat of arms of the German-speaking Community of Belgium. The decree establishing the symbols was adopted on 1 October 1990 and published on 15 November 1990.
See also Coat of arms of the German-speaking Community of Belgium National symbols of Belgium Flags of Belgium
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