Political Map of Western Europe
Flags of Western Europe
- Austria
- Capital: Vienna
- Flag: The red and white colors in the Austrian flag come from a legend. Duke Leopold V was covered in blood from fighting in the Battle of Ptolemais in 1191. The only white on his outfit was a strip that had been protected by his belt. He saw it when he got undressed and used it as inspiration for the Austrian flag.
- Belgium
- Capital: Brussels
- Flag: These simple colors were from the Duchy of Brabant’s coat of arms. The vertical design though is believed to be based on the flag of France. If true, it may be because they speak the same language and are neighbors.
- France
- Capital: Paris
- Flag: Each color represents something different. The blue is the fleur-de-lys’ color, the white is the king’s color and the red is the color of our blood. Though wrong, american people believe the color to represent liberty, equality and fraternity.
- Germany
- Capital: Berlin
- Flag: The German flag’s colors were also from their coat of arms. A black eagle with a red beak on a golden field. The red doesn’t mean anything, it’s because it was usual to color beaks in red
- Liechtenstein
- Capital: Vaduz
- Flag: The color and crown of the flag are cultural, political, and regional symbols. The blue symbolizes the sky and the red represents the evening fire lit in houses all over the country. The crown is for the unity of the people and the prince.
- Luxembourg
- Capital: Luxembourg
- Flag: France influenced this flag, it’s the same but horizontal. That’s ironic because Luxembourg has the same flag as the Netherlands, but with a lighter shade of blue. The colors of this flag also came from their coat of arms.
- Monaco
- Capital: Monaco
- Flag: This design was adopted by prince Charles the third. The colors came from The house of Grimaldi since the 14th century.
- Netherlands
- Capital: Amsterdam
- Flag: The red comes from the original orange that was on the flag. The white and blue stripes are from the coat of arms of Prince William of Orange.
- Switzerland
- Capital: Bern
- Flag: Switzerland based their flag on the imperial war flag of the Holy Roman Empire. It is aslo an inverse symbol of the red cross, demonstrating hospitality.