Norway Flag: Meaning, Colors, History & Facts
Norway’s national flag has a red field with a dark-blue Nordic cross outlined in white. Fredrik Meltzer’s design was chosen by the Storting in 1821 and later became a symbol of Norwegian sovereignty and democracy.
What does the Norway flag look like?
The ordinary national flag has a bright-red field with a dark-blue cross outlined on both sides in white. The cross is shifted toward the hoist in the traditional Nordic form.
Why red, white and blue?
During the 1821 parliamentary debate, Meltzer explicitly promoted red, white and blue as the “colors of liberty”, citing countries such as revolutionary France and the United States.
Why a Nordic cross?
The cross reflects Norway’s Scandinavian historical context and its earlier use of Denmark’s Dannebrog, while the addition of blue produced a distinctly Norwegian design.
Explore the Nordic cross and colors →
What are the official proportions?
Government regulations define the ordinary flag at 16:22, equivalent to 8:11. The blue cross is 2/16 of the height and each white border is 1/16.
Who designed Norway’s flag?
Fredrik Meltzer, a parliamentary representative from Bergen, submitted the proposal that became the modern Norwegian flag.
When was it chosen?
The Storting selected Meltzer’s design in May 1821. A royal decree later permitted its use as the Norwegian commercial flag.
What was the union mark?
During the union with Sweden, some Norwegian flags carried a joint union emblem in the upper hoist. The 1898 Flag Act removed the union mark from the Norwegian merchant flag.
Read the Norway flag history →
How can you identify it?
Norway uses a red field with a blue cross outlined white. Iceland uses a blue field with a red cross outlined white, making the two easy to distinguish once the background is checked.
Norway flag facts
| Field | Red |
|---|---|
| Cross | Dark blue outlined white |
| Designer | Fredrik Meltzer |
| Chosen | May 1821 |
| Ordinary flag ratio | 16:22 |
| Flag Act | 1898 |
