🇩🇰

Flag of Denmark

Europe

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Quick Facts

Capital
Copenhagen
Flag adopted
1625
Population
6,011,488
Area
43,094 km²
Languages
Danish
Currency
Danish krone (kr) — DKK
Demonym
Danish
Government
parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Subregion
Northern Europe
Driving side
Right
Timezones
UTC-04:00, UTC-03:00 +3 more
Independence
1849

Religions

  • Evangelical Lutheran 71.4%
  • Other 24.3%
  • Muslim 4.3%

About This Flag

The flag of Denmark, called the Dannebrog, features a red field with a white Scandinavian cross (a cross offset to the hoist side). According to Danish legend, the Dannebrog fell from the sky during the Battle of Lyndanisse in Estonia on June 15, 1219, rallying Danish crusaders to victory.

While the legend is mythical, the Dannebrog is widely recognized as the oldest continuously used state flag in the world, with verifiable documentation dating to the 14th century. The off-center Scandinavian cross design established by Denmark became the template for all other Nordic flags, including those of Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Iceland.

What the colors & design mean

The red field represents courage and strength. The white cross represents Christianity and the Danish Christian heritage. The off-center cross design, with the crossbar shifted toward the hoist, became the defining feature of all Scandinavian flags.

red white

Pattern: Cross Design

Bordering countries (1)

🇩🇪 Germany

Fun Facts

  • The Dannebrog is recognized by Guinness World Records as the oldest continuously used national flag, with the earliest confirmed reference dating to 1370 and the legend placing its origin in 1219.
  • According to legend, the flag fell from the sky during the Battle of Lyndanisse (now Tallinn, Estonia) in 1219, when King Valdemar II's forces were losing — its appearance turned the tide of battle.
  • Every Nordic country's flag (Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland, and the Faroe Islands) uses the same off-center cross design pioneered by the Danish Dannebrog.
  • June 15 is celebrated as Valdemarsdag (Valdemar's Day) in Denmark, commemorating the legendary descent of the Dannebrog from the heavens.

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