History of the Norway Flag: Fredrik Meltzer’s 1821 Design and the 1898 Flag Act
Norway’s current red-white-blue Nordic cross was chosen by the Storting in 1821 and became a powerful symbol in the country’s long constitutional struggle within the union with Sweden.
1814: Norway needs its own flag
After centuries in the Danish state, Norway adopted its own Constitution in 1814. The need for a separate Norwegian flag became increasingly important.
Early 1814 design
An early Norwegian flag adapted Denmark’s Dannebrog by placing the Norwegian lion in the upper hoist area.
1820–1821 flag campaign
Merchants and shipowners pushed for a distinctive Norwegian commercial flag, leading to multiple proposals being considered by the Storting.
Fredrik Meltzer’s proposal
Representative Fredrik Meltzer proposed a red field with a blue Nordic cross outlined in white. He argued for the cross tradition and red-white-blue “colors of liberty.”
May 1821: Storting chooses the design
Meltzer’s proposal received the most votes in May 1821 and became the basis of the flag Norway still uses today.
Union with Sweden
Norway remained in union with Sweden, and later union flags added a joint emblem in the upper hoist of both countries’ flags.
1898 Flag Act
The Storting passed the Flag Act of 1898, removing the union emblem from the Norwegian merchant flag.
1905 independence
When the union with Sweden ended in 1905, the clean red-white-blue flag was already established as a national symbol.
