About Norway's National Flag

The Cross and the Colors

The national flag of Norway consists of a red field bearing a large blue cross outlined in white. The cross is a Scandinavian cross, a symbol representing the Christian faith of the Scandinavian countries.

Dimensions and Ratio

The flag is rectangular, with a width-to-length ratio of 8 to 11. The blue cross extends nearly to the edge of the flag, reaching approximately 9/11 of the width. The white outline around the cross is thin, providing a subtle contrast between the blue and red colors.

History and Adoption

The flag was officially adopted on July 17, 1821. The design was created by Norwegian painter Fredrik Meltzer, who combined the colors of the Danish flag (red and white) with the cross of the Swedish flag (blue and white).