This list contains all twelve official flags of the provinces of the Netherlands, including the pennons. The Dutch provinces have their own flag and also their own pennons. However, the pennons are unofficial, so no flag protocol applies to them. So they can be hoisted at any time. Provincial flags tend to have a long historical history. Flags have made an important contribution to forming a national or regional identity since time immemorial. This also applies to Dutch provincial flags, which often have a long tradition. Yet, research shows that quite a few Dutch people do not or hardly recognize the flag of their province.
Designed by Gerlof Auke Bontekoe, the flag of Drenthe has a remarkable appearance. The traditional Saxon colours of red and white form the basis of the design. They also link it to the Archdiocese of Utrecht, which administered Drenthe when the area was still part of the Oversticht. Between the white base colour and the two red bands are six red stars and a black tower. The stars represent the districts Zuidenveld, Oostenmoer, Noordenveld, Rolde, Beilen and Diever. The tower is a historical reference to Coevorden Castle. From this castle, the viscounts of Coevorden maintained the law in the name of the bishop of Utrecht for a long time. The current design has been at the base of the Drenthe provincial flag since 1947.[1]
19 February 1947
Flevoland
The base of the flag waved by the country's youngest province consists of two horizontal stripes in the colours green and blue. A thinner, yellow stripe separates the two. In the upper left corner of the flag is a fleur-de-lis. The yellow, partly wavy strip symbolizes the Flevoland cornfields. The green represents the province's vast meadows, while the blue recalls the fact that Flevoland was conquered from the sea. The white fleur-de-lis is a tribute to Cornelis Lely, the man behind the Zuiderzee Works and the creation of Flevoland. The design was adopted as the provincial flag on 15 February 1989.
The flag is based on the kings of Frysia in 15th century. The colours are the same as those of the national flag of The Netherlands . The stripes and leaves of the yellow water-lily, represent the 7 districts of Friesland.[3]
11 February 1958
Gelderland
The colours are taken from the coat of arms, in which the lions from former duchesses are combined.[4]
Two horizontal bands of equal height; above silver (white), below gold (golden yellow), separated by a narrower band of blue; over all, placed on the breeches side (mast side) and facing it, a crowned, red lion with double tail.[6]
The North Brabantian flag dates from the Middle Ages and has the highest seniority among all Dutch province flags. The colours gules and argent have been used in Brabant standards, flags and pennants since the proclamation of the County of Louvain (942 CE) during the Lotharingian period. Later, the Duchy of Brabant continued using these colours. During the Middle Ages and the centuries after, the red and white would often be used. At the end of the 18th century, the flag fell into disuse. Since 1959, the red and white checkered flag has become the official flag of the province of North Brabant.[7]
The colours of the flag are similar to the colours of the coat of arms, which is a combination of the coat of arms from Holland and West Friesland .[8]
The yellow and red stripes are a reference to the former association of this province with Holland. The blue source in the middle stands for the river IJssel, which gave the province its name.[9]
In the middle of the flag, the coat of arms of the province is seen. The blue waves stand for the sea, and efforts to subdue its strength. The lion is a symbol for the winner of this battle between man and sea.[12]
. The stripes and leaves of the yellow water-lily, represent the 7 districts of Friesland.[3] 
with red and blue in the flag of the area around Groningen 
.[5] 
.[8] 
