A flag is more than just a piece of fabric. It’s identity, history, and emotion all in one. Every flag tells a story: of kings and revolutions, of war and unity, of pride and pain. Some flags are young and ever-changing. Others have remained the same for centuries — recognizable from battlefield to football stadium.
But which flags are actually the oldest in the world? And why did these particular designs endure while others faded or changed? Below you’ll find 10 national flags with a long, impressive history — some even older than the countries they represent.
1. Denmark – since 1219
The Dannebrog, the red flag with the white cross, is considered the oldest national flag still in use. According to legend, the design literally fell from the sky during the Battle of Lyndanisse in 1219.
Historically accurate? Probably not. But what a story. What’s certain is that the flag has been associated with the Danish royal house since the 13th century. It wasn’t until 1625 that King Christian IV officially recognized the white cross on red as the royal Danish flag.
2. Austria – since c. 1230
The simple flag with three horizontal stripes (red-white-red) dates back to the House of Babenberg in the 13th century. According to legend, Duke Leopold V of Austria (1157–1194) conceived the flag during fierce fighting in the Crusades. After the Siege of Acre, his white tunic was soaked in blood, but when he removed his belt, the cloth underneath was still white. He found the contrast so striking that he made Austria’s flag based on that image.
In reality, the pattern was first used as a coat of arms by Duke Frederick II around 1230. The flag survived centuries of war, empires, and the breakup of Austria-Hungary — and still flies over public buildings today.
3. Switzerland – since 1291 (officially 1889)
The white cross on a red field was already used by Swiss fighters in the Middle Ages. It wasn’t officially adopted as the national flag until 1889.
The square shape makes the Swiss flag unique — except at sea, where a rectangular version is used. Very Swiss indeed.
4. Sweden – since c. 1560 (officially 1906)
Sweden’s flag — light blue with a golden yellow cross — is a classic example of the Nordic cross, a design also seen in the flags of Denmark, Norway, and Finland. The cross, which stretches to the edges and is slightly left-aligned, traditionally symbolizes Christianity.
But the Swedish flag has even deeper roots. The blue and yellow colors have been associated with Swedish royalty since the 13th century. In 1275, King Magnus III first used them in his royal arms. The current color scheme and cross design were likely inspired by the national coat of arms of 1442: a blue field divided by a golden cross pattée.
The flag wasn’t officially adopted until 1906, but the design has been a familiar presence in Scandinavia for centuries — a symbol of national pride uniting religion, monarchy, and history.
5. Netherlands – since 1572 (officially 1937)
The red-white-blue Dutch flag was first raised during the Eighty Years’ War, when the Geuzen captured Den Briel in 1572. Originally, the top stripe was orange (the “Prinsenvlag“).
It wasn’t until 1937 that Queen Wilhelmina officially decreed the color should be red instead of orange. Since then, the design has remained virtually unchanged — and recognizable far beyond Dutch borders.
6. Spain – since 1785 (officially 1938)
Spain’s iconic red-yellow-red flag was introduced in 1785 for naval use, to distinguish Spanish ships from others. The design grew in popularity and was more broadly adopted.
During the Civil War and under Franco, the coat of arms on the flag changed several times, but the colors largely stayed the same. The current version dates from 1981, but the basic layout is over two centuries old.
7. United Kingdom – since 1801
The iconic Union Jack is a combination of three crosses: the red cross of Saint George (England), the white cross of Saint Andrew (Scotland), and the red diagonal cross of Saint Patrick (Ireland).
The current form emerged in 1801 when Ireland joined the United Kingdom. The flag remained unchanged even after Ireland became mostly independent in 1922. It is not only the symbol of Great Britain, but also of many former colonies.
8. United States – since 1777 (evolving)
The American flag was officially adopted on June 14, 1777 — and has been revised 27 times since. Every time a new state joined, a star was added.
The current version with 50 stars has been in use since 1960. Still, the core concept (13 stripes for the original colonies and stars for the states) has remained for over 240 years.
9. France – since 1794
The tricolore — blue, white, red — emerged during the French Revolution. The colors symbolize liberty, equality, and fraternity, though they were originally chosen to combine the colors of Paris and the monarchy.
During the revolution, it became the people’s flag. Since then, it has stood as the emblem of the republic — despite a brief monarchist interlude from 1814 to 1830.
10. Greece – since 1822
Greece’s blue-and-white flag was adopted during the war of independence against the Ottoman Empire. The nine stripes are said to represent the nine syllables of the motto “Eleftheria i Thanatos” (Freedom or Death).
The cross in the upper-left corner stands for the Greek Orthodox Church, which played a key role in national identity. Since 1978, this has been the country’s sole official flag.
A flag is a mirror of history. Every design tells something about struggle, pride, religion, revolution, or identity. Some flags remained nearly unchanged for centuries; others evolved with the times. But what they all have in common: they represent an idea greater than themselves.
Whether it fell from the sky over a medieval battlefield or rose from the spirit of revolution — the world’s oldest flags are living symbols of past and future. And that makes them more than just fabric on a stick.
