Flag of Liechtenstein

The flag of Liechtenstein was adopted on June 30, 1982 and consists of two horizontal stripes of blue and red, and a golden crown is depicted in the upper left corner of the flag.

Meaning of the flag of Liechtenstein

• The blue color symbolizes the sky;
• Red represents the evening lights lit in homes across the country; 
• The crown symbolizes the unity of the people and their prince, as well as the country's independence.

An interesting fact about the flag of Liechtenstein is that a small copy of it, the size of a pack of cigarettes, was allowed to visit the moon. In this way, the United States honored the contribution of the Liechtenstein company Balzers AG (now Oerlikon Balzers), which supplied important components for the Apollo program in the field of vacuum technology and protective coatings.

History of the flag of the Principality of Liechtenstein

In 1719, when the Principality of Liechtenstein was founded, the authorities designed the country's first national flag. The flag had two horizontal stripes: yellow at the top and red at the bottom. The colors of the flag were borrowed from the colors of the Liechtenstein coat of arms. The flag was used until 1852.

In 1852, Liechtenstein became part of the German Confederation. Therefore, the country adopted a new flag in the colors of the princely banner. The new flag had two stripes, just like the previous flag. However, the stripes were blue and red and were arranged vertically, unlike the first flag, where they were horizontal.

In 1921, the design of the national flag was changed from vertical red and blue stripes to horizontal ones. The origin and significance of the flag are not fully understood. It is assumed that the colors were inspired by the colors of the ceremonial dress of the princely court in the 18th century.

In 1937, Liechtenstein changed its flag again. This change was influenced by the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, when Liechtenstein realized that its national flag was identical to that of Haiti. In an attempt to distinguish the flags, Liechtenstein added a golden crown in the upper left corner of the flag. The new flag was presented at a colorful event on June 24, 1937. The new flag remains the national flag of Liechtenstein.