Norway - flag law and rules for flying the flag

Last modified: 2004-10-23 by phil nelson
Keywords: norway |
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by António Martins

• Act of 1898 describing the flag
• Historical background
• Flag Flying Rules
• Pantone colors

See also:

• Flag Pole
• Dimensions of the flag
• Norway

Related sites:

• "National Identity: Europeanisation or Globalisation? The case of the Norwegian Flag colours" (A non-official perspective)

Act of 1898 describing the flag

Below is first the act of 1898 describing the flag (still in force). Note that it only relates to the merchant flag and the state flag(s). No mention of the flag being the national flag of Norway. I am quoting a brochure issued by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (no title, no date of publication), and the translation is theirs.

Act of 10th December 1898 relating to the Flag of the Realm of Norway

1

Norway's Merchant Flag shall be a dark blue cross, bordered with white, set on a bright red ground, its width in the proportion of 16 to 22 parts of its length. When flown from a mast or jack-staff, the two red quarters closest to the mast or jack-staff shall be squares, each with a side equal to six sixteenths of the width and six twenty-second parts of the length of the flag, while the two red rectangles furthest from the mast or jack-staff, both having the same width, shall comprise twelve twenty-second parts of the length of the flag. The width of the blue cross shall be equal to two sixteenths of the width of the flag, or two twenty-second parts of its length, while the width of the white border shall be equal to one sixteenth of the width of the flag or one twenty-second part of its length.

2

The flag as described in 1 above shall be used on merchant vessels whenever in foreign harbours they wish to remain under the protection, or obtain the services, of embassies, consuls or commercial agents. On public buildings, mail and customs vessels, the same flag, but with a swallow-tail and tongue, shall be used, with this difference, however, that a white field shall be inserted in the centre of the mail and customs flag, bearing respectively the words "Post" or "Told", surmounted by a crown.

3

This Act shall come into force one year after the day on which it is published in "Lovtidenden" (Gazette).

The act was gazetted on 15th of December 1898, and the flag was hoisted a year later. The act is still in force, and the flags described by it are still seen. According to the spelling reforms early this century ('purging' the most Danish words), the customs now has a flag with the word "Toll" on it.

The Norwegian flag did not originate with this act of 1898, but by a resolution by the Norwegian parliament, the Storting, in 1821. This was not sanction