Flags of Europe
Recognise 43 national flags of Europe, from the Nordic crosses to the tricolours, by their colours and design.
43 cards · Geography
Each Zap teaches up to 5 new cards, so you learn the deck a few at a time.
Checked by the Brain Zap team · reviewed 23 Oct 2026
Sources: Gallery of sovereign state flags (Wikipedia), flag-icons by Lipis, MIT licence (the pictures)
Preview
Blue, white and red vertical bands
Show answerHide answer: Blue, white and red vertical bands
France
Learn more: The tricolour dates from the 1789 Revolution: blue and red were the colours of Paris, white the king's.
Green, white and red vertical bands
Show answerHide answer: Green, white and red vertical bands
Italy
Learn more: First adopted in 1797 by a republic set up in the north under Napoleon.
Black, red and gold horizontal bands
Show answerHide answer: Black, red and gold horizontal bands
Germany
Learn more: The colours go back to volunteers who fought Napoleon. The flag returned in 1949, and for the whole country in 1990.
Green, white and orange vertical bands
Show answerHide answer: Green, white and orange vertical bands
Ireland
Learn more: Green for the Gaelic tradition, orange for William of Orange's supporters, white for peace between them. Flown since 1848.
Black, yellow and red vertical bands
Show answerHide answer: Black, yellow and red vertical bands
Belgium
Learn more: The colours come from the arms of the Duchy of Brabant. The flag dates from the 1830 revolution.
About this topic
Europe has the densest crowd of flags on Earth: more than 40 countries packed into one continent, many of them sharing colours, shapes and history.
Most European flags belong to a few families. The Nordic cross runs through Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland and Iceland, always shifted towards the pole. The tricolour, three equal bands, spread from the French Revolution to Italy, Ireland, Belgium and beyond, sometimes turned on its side. A third family adds a coat of arms to tell look-alikes apart, as Slovakia, Slovenia and Croatia do.
Learn the families first, then the one detail that sets each member apart: the order of the colours, a shade of blue, a cross, a crown or an eagle.
All 43 cards
Blue, white and red vertical bands
France
Learn more: The tricolour dates from the 1789 Revolution: blue and red were the colours of Paris, white the king's.
Green, white and red vertical bands
Italy
Learn more: First adopted in 1797 by a republic set up in the north under Napoleon.
Black, red and gold horizontal bands
Germany
Learn more: The colours go back to volunteers who fought Napoleon. The flag returned in 1949, and for the whole country in 1990.
Green, white and orange vertical bands
Ireland
Learn more: Green for the Gaelic tradition, orange for William of Orange's supporters, white for peace between them. Flown since 1848.
Black, yellow and red vertical bands
Belgium
Learn more: The colours come from the arms of the Duchy of Brabant. The flag dates from the 1830 revolution.
Red, white and blue horizontal bands
Netherlands
Learn more: It began as orange, white and blue, the Prince of Orange's colours. Red replaced orange in the 1600s.
Red, white and light blue horizontal bands
Luxembourg
Learn more: A near twin of a neighbour's flag: here the blue is lighter and the flag longer. The colours come from its rulers' arms.
Red, white and red horizontal bands
Austria
Learn more: Legend says a duke's white tunic was soaked red with blood at the Siege of Acre in 1191, except under his belt.
White over red, two horizontal bands
Poland
Learn more: White and red come from the white eagle on a red shield in its coat of arms. Adopted in 1919.
Blue over yellow, two horizontal bands
Ukraine
Learn more: Often read as blue sky over fields of wheat. First a national flag in 1918, adopted again in 1992.
White, blue and red horizontal bands
Russia
Learn more: Said to have been modelled on the Dutch flag around 1700. It returned in 1991, replacing the Soviet red flag.
White, green and red horizontal bands
Bulgaria
Learn more: Adopted in 1879 after independence from the Ottoman Empire.
Red, white and green horizontal bands
Hungary
Learn more: The colours come from its old coat of arms. The tricolour was flown in the 1848 revolution.
Yellow, green and red horizontal bands
Lithuania
Learn more: Yellow for the sun, green for forests, red for blood shed for the country. Adopted in 1918, restored in 1989.
Blue, black and white horizontal bands
Estonia
Learn more: Blue for the sky, black for the soil, white for hope. It began as a student society's flag in 1884.
Dark red with a thin white horizontal stripe
Latvia
Learn more: One of the oldest flag designs: a 13th-century chronicle tells of a red banner with a white stripe.
White cross on red, shifted towards the pole
Denmark
Learn more: The oldest national flag still in use. Legend says it fell from the sky during a battle in 1219.
Yellow cross on blue, shifted towards the pole
Sweden
Learn more: Blue and gold come from its coat of arms of three crowns. The cross shape follows its southern neighbour's flag.
Blue cross edged in white on red
Norway
Learn more: Designed in 1821: the red and white of its old union partner, with blue added for liberty.
Blue cross on white, shifted towards the pole
Finland
Learn more: Blue for its lakes and sky, white for snow. Adopted in 1918, months after independence from Russia.
Red cross edged in white on blue
Iceland
Learn more: Blue for the sea and mountains, white for ice, red for volcanic fire. The flag of the republic since 1944.
Red and white crosses, straight and diagonal, on blue
United Kingdom
Learn more: The Union Jack layers the crosses of St George, St Andrew and St Patrick. This form dates from 1801.
Red, wide yellow and red bands, with a coat of arms
Spain
Learn more: Red and gold come from the old kingdoms of Castile and Aragon. The two pillars stand for the Strait of Gibraltar.
Green and red, with a coat of arms on the dividing line
Portugal
Learn more: Adopted in 1911 after the monarchy fell. The armillary sphere recalls the Age of Discovery.
Blue and white stripes, white cross in the corner
Greece
Learn more: Its nine stripes are said to match the nine syllables of the motto 'Freedom or Death'.
White cross on a red square
Switzerland
Learn more: One of only two square national flags. The Red Cross emblem reverses its colours, honouring the founder's homeland.
Black two-headed eagle on red
Albania
Learn more: The eagle recalls Skanderbeg, the 15th-century hero who fought the Ottomans. Locals call the country Shqipëria.
Blue, yellow and red bands, with a coat of arms
Andorra
Learn more: Its two co-princes are a Catalan bishop and the French President, both recalled in its coat of arms.
Red over green, with a red and white ornament at the pole
Belarus
Learn more: The ornament at the pole is a pattern from traditional embroidered towels. This design dates from 1995.
Yellow triangle and white stars on blue
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Learn more: Chosen in 1998. The triangle echoes the country's shape; the stars and blue recall Europe.
Red, white and blue bands, with a checkerboard shield
Croatia
Learn more: The red and white checkerboard, the šahovnica, has been its symbol for centuries. Current flag since 1990.
White over red, with a blue triangle at the pole
Czechia
Learn more: First flown in 1920. When the federation split in 1993, it kept the shared flag.
White, blue and red bands, with a double-cross shield
Slovakia
Learn more: The coat of arms was added in 1992, partly so the flag would not look like the Russian one.
White, blue and red bands, with a mountain shield
Slovenia
Learn more: The shield shows Triglav, its highest mountain, under three gold stars. Adopted in 1991.
Red with a gold border and a gold eagle
Montenegro
Learn more: Adopted in 2004, two years before independence. The gold two-headed eagle comes from its old royal house.
Yellow sun with eight rays on red
North Macedonia
Learn more: Adopted in 1995 after a dispute with Greece over its first flag, which showed the Vergina Sun.
Blue, yellow and red vertical bands
Romania
Learn more: Its blue is lighter than Chad's otherwise identical flag. This one came first, in 1848.
Blue, yellow and red bands, with an eagle holding a shield
Moldova
Learn more: The eagle holds a cross in its beak; the shield shows an aurochs head, an old symbol of the region.
White and red halves, with a cross in the corner
Malta
Learn more: The George Cross in the corner was awarded by King George VI in 1942 for courage under siege.
Red over white, two horizontal bands
Monaco
Learn more: Nearly the same as Indonesia's flag, only shorter. The colours are those of the Grimaldi family, rulers since 1297.
Blue over red, with a gold crown
Liechtenstein
Learn more: The crown was added after the 1936 Olympics, where it found its flag matched Haiti's.
White over light blue, with a coat of arms
San Marino
Learn more: One of the world's oldest republics. The three towers on its arms stand on Mount Titano.
Yellow and white halves, with crossed keys and a crown
Vatican City
Learn more: The keys of Saint Peter, gold and silver, sit under the papal tiara. One of only two square national flags.
Image credits
- Blue, white and red vertical bands: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Blue, white and red vertical bands
- Green, white and red vertical bands: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Green, white and red vertical bands
- Black, red and gold horizontal bands: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Black, red and gold horizontal bands
- Green, white and orange vertical bands: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Green, white and orange vertical bands
- Black, yellow and red vertical bands: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Black, yellow and red vertical bands
- Red, white and blue horizontal bands: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Red, white and blue horizontal bands
- Red, white and light blue horizontal bands: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Red, white and light blue horizontal bands
- Red, white and red horizontal bands: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Red, white and red horizontal bands
- White over red, two horizontal bands: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: White over red, two horizontal bands
- Blue over yellow, two horizontal bands: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Blue over yellow, two horizontal bands
- White, blue and red horizontal bands: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: White, blue and red horizontal bands
- White, green and red horizontal bands: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: White, green and red horizontal bands
- Red, white and green horizontal bands: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Red, white and green horizontal bands
- Yellow, green and red horizontal bands: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Yellow, green and red horizontal bands
- Blue, black and white horizontal bands: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Blue, black and white horizontal bands
- Dark red with a thin white horizontal stripe: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Dark red with a thin white horizontal stripe
- White cross on red, shifted towards the pole: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: White cross on red, shifted towards the pole
- Yellow cross on blue, shifted towards the pole: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Yellow cross on blue, shifted towards the pole
- Blue cross edged in white on red: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Blue cross edged in white on red
- Blue cross on white, shifted towards the pole: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Blue cross on white, shifted towards the pole
- Red cross edged in white on blue: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Red cross edged in white on blue
- Red and white crosses, straight and diagonal, on blue: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Red and white crosses, straight and diagonal, on blue
- Red, wide yellow and red bands, with a coat of arms: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Red, wide yellow and red bands, with a coat of arms
- Green and red, with a coat of arms on the dividing line: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Green and red, with a coat of arms on the dividing line
- Blue and white stripes, white cross in the corner: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Blue and white stripes, white cross in the corner
- White cross on a red square: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: White cross on a red square
- Black two-headed eagle on red: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Black two-headed eagle on red
- Blue, yellow and red bands, with a coat of arms: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Blue, yellow and red bands, with a coat of arms
- Red over green, with a red and white ornament at the pole: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Red over green, with a red and white ornament at the pole
- Yellow triangle and white stars on blue: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Yellow triangle and white stars on blue
- Red, white and blue bands, with a checkerboard shield: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Red, white and blue bands, with a checkerboard shield
- White over red, with a blue triangle at the pole: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: White over red, with a blue triangle at the pole
- White, blue and red bands, with a double-cross shield: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: White, blue and red bands, with a double-cross shield
- White, blue and red bands, with a mountain shield: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: White, blue and red bands, with a mountain shield
- Red with a gold border and a gold eagle: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Red with a gold border and a gold eagle
- Yellow sun with eight rays on red: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Yellow sun with eight rays on red
- Blue, yellow and red vertical bands: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Blue, yellow and red vertical bands
- Blue, yellow and red bands, with an eagle holding a shield: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Blue, yellow and red bands, with an eagle holding a shield
- White and red halves, with a cross in the corner: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: White and red halves, with a cross in the corner
- Red over white, two horizontal bands: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Red over white, two horizontal bands
- Blue over red, with a gold crown: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Blue over red, with a gold crown
- White over light blue, with a coat of arms: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: White over light blue, with a coat of arms
- Yellow and white halves, with crossed keys and a crown: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Yellow and white halves, with crossed keys and a crown
More geography decks
Each deck takes about 2 min a day.
World capitals
The capital cities of 40 countries on every continent, from easy ones to tricky ones like Australia, Turkey and Nigeria.
40 cards · meet them all in 8 days
Flags of the Americas
Recognise all 35 national flags of North, Central and South America and the Caribbean from a picture and a description.
35 cards · meet them all in 7 days
Flags of the world
Recognise 40 national flags from a picture and a short description of their colours and design.
40 cards · meet them all in 8 days