Flag of Friesland (Fryslân)

The official flag of Friesland was adopted by the Gedeputeerde Staten van Friesland on July 9, 1957. The flag consists of four cobalt blue and three white diagonal stripes; the white stripes contain a total of seven red pompeblêden.

The flag is described in the decree as follows:

A flag with seven diagonal stripes of equal width, alternating cobalt blue and white.

The centerline of the central web begins at the top of the trouser side (or pants side) and runs from corner to corner; the white webs are loaded with seven scarlet pompeblêdes, arranged perpendicular to the axis of the web and in the ratio 2:3:2.

Meaning

According to the 16th century scholar Suffridus Petrus, the seven red pompeblêds or lily pads are said to refer to the seven Frisian maritime lands that were separated by three watercourses. These were more or less independent areas along the coast from Alkmaar to the Weser, which according to tradition had fought together against the Normans. Probably, however, there were never exactly seven of these administrative units; therefore, the number seven probably has the meaning "many".

The motif of streams in a blue field (tres aquas candidas in campo cœlestini) is sometimes also associated with the Swedish royal arms of the Danish writer Olaus Magnus.

In addition to flags, pennants of the same design are also used. The pennant consists of eight blue and seven white stripes, with a pompeblêd in each white stripe.

The pompeblêd adorns many an item from Friesland, such as the jersey of the Heerenveen soccer club and the Blauhúster Dakkapel. A bottle of Sonnema's Frisian Grain Gin came in a bag made of the Frisian flag.