- Frisian Flag
The Frisian flag ( _nl. Friese vlag or vlag van Friesland), is the official flag of the Dutch province of
Friesland .It consists of four blue and three white diagonal stripes; in the white stipes are a total of seven red "
pompeblêd en", stylised heart-shaped leaves of yellow water-lily. The jerseys of the football clubsc Heerenveen and theBlauhúster Dakkapel are modeled after this flag.Symbolism
The seven red "pompeblêden" are a reference to the Frisian "sea countries" in the
Middle Ages : independent regions along the coast fromAlkmaar to theWeser who were allianced against theVikings . There were never precisely seven distinct rulers, but the number seven probably has the connotation "many." Some sources hold, however, that there have been seven Frisian lands: West Friesland,Westergoa ,Eastergoa ,Hunsingo ,Fivelingo ,Emsingo , andJeverland .The "pompeblêden" are used in other related flags such as the flag of the "
Ommelanden " in neighbouring Groningen Province, a historically Frisian area, and for a proposed pan-Frisia flag put forth by the "Groep fan Auwerk ".History
Since the
11th century a coat of arms with "pompeblêdden" is known. Evidence herefore lies within verses of the Gudrunlied. Round1200 Scandinavia n coats of arms reveal many traces of water-lillies and hearts, found often in combination with images oflion s.15th century books onheraldry show that two armorial bearings were derived from the early ones: a coat of arms showing lions and seven pompeblêdden transformed into little blocks, the other being the arms with the seven now known lillies on stripes.
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