50 Years of the Luxembourg Flag

To the left: Grand Duke Henri's portrait; to the right: the tricolour Luxembourg flag. Above the flag: the year "1972"; below it: the year "2022". The issuing state "LËTZEBUERG" completes the design at the bottom.

The Luxembourg national flag features three horizontal stripes in red, white and light blue — a colour combination derived from the coat of arms of the House of Limburg-Luxembourg and documented since the 13th century. Nevertheless, the flag was not officially codified for a long time: it was not until 23 June 1972 that the Luxembourg parliament passed a law fixing the colours, proportions and use of the national flag in binding form. This gave the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg a legally regulated state symbol — relatively late for a state whose formal independence had already been internationally recognised since the Treaty of London in 1867.

The light blue of the Luxembourg flag is often a point of discussion: it differs noticeably from the cobalt blue of the Dutch flag, with which it is frequently confused, and was clearly defined by its specific shade in the 1972 law. As a Grand Duchy, Luxembourg has a form of state that is unique in Europe; Grand Duke Henri has led the country since 2000, representing a monarchy that derives its legitimacy from the Nassau succession of the 19th century. The Grand Duchy is a founding member of the European Union and has belonged to the eurozone since 2002. Luxembourg's 2022 2-euro commemorative coin marks the 50th anniversary of the flag's legal establishment in 1972.