Flags of European Countries And Their Look-Alikes

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The key to cracking the code of vexillology is to understand ‘proportions’ and ‘hues!’ Flags are not just about designs and colors, they are a bit more subtle than that, they are about the hues and the proportions that inform those designs. If you understand that, you’ve hoisted yourself up to glory.

The flags of European countries have tons of look-alikes, many similar designs that make them look the same to the untrained eye and can even put the “vex” in vexillology. Thankfully you have me to take you on a tour of them.

If you’d like a really cool tutorial on the flags of European countries and their designs <= just hit that link. #funwithflags, #flags #vexillology.

the-flags-of-europe-and-their-design-similarities-Europe-flags-map — The Flags of Europe Map

What you want to pay attention to are the PROPORTIONS of the flags in each category as well as the HUES, or shades of colors, used by each country. For example, while the flags of Denmark and Norway may look similar at first glance, the HEX CODES for each red is different as well as the overall PROPORTIONS. Proportions are dimensions expressed in ratios (2:1, 5:8, etc.) and each country’s flag uses a slightly different ratio. If you look closely, the flag of Denmark is taller than the flags of Norway, Sweden, and Finland. Keep this in mind as you compare the flags of European countries below in each category and you will begin to distinguish them as different.

THE NORDIC CROSS FLAGS

flags-of-european-countries-that-look-similar-200px-Flag_of_Finland.svg — Finland

BELGIUM AND GERMANY FLAGS

flags-of-european-countries-that-look-similar-200px-Flag_of_Belgium.svg — Belgium

flags-of-european-countries-that-look-similar-200px-Flag_of_Germany.svg — Germany

NETHERLANDS AND LUXEMBOURG FLAGS

flags-of-european-countries-that-look-similar-200px-Flag_of_the_Netherlands.svg — Netherlands

flags-of-european-countries-that-look-similar-200px-Flag_of_Luxembourg.svg — Luxembourg

ANDORRA, MOLDOVA, ROMANIA, AND CHAD FLAGS

flags-of-european-countries-that-look-similar-200px-Flag_of_Andorra.svg — Andorra

flags-of-european-countries-that-look-similar-200px-Flag_of_Moldova.svg — Moldova

flags-of-european-countries-that-look-similar-200px-Flag_of_Romania.svg — Romania

flags-of-european-countries-that-look-similar-Flag_of_Chad.svg — Chad

HUNGARY, BULGARIA, ITALY, AND TAJIKISTAN FLAGS

flags-of-european-countries-that-look-similar-200px-Flag_of_Hungary.svg — Hungary

flags-of-european-countries-that-look-similar-200px-Flag_of_Bulgaria.svg — Bulgaria

flags-of-european-countries-that-look-similar-200px-Flag_of_Italy.svg — Italy

flags-of-european-countries-that-look-similar-200px-Flag_of_Tajikistan.svg — Tajikistan

POLAND, MONACO, INDONESIA, AND SINGAPORE FLAGS

flags-of-european-countries-that-look-similar-200px-Flag_of_Poland.svg — Poland

flags-of-european-countries-that-look-similar-200px-Flag_of_Monaco.svg — Monaco

flags-of-european-countries-that-look-similar-200px-Flag_of_Indonesia.svg — Indonesia

flags-of-european-countries-that-look-similar-200px-Flag_of_Singapore.svg — Singapore

IRELAND AND IVORY COAST FLAGS

flags-of-european-countries-that-look-similar-200px-Flag_of_Ireland.svg — Ireland

flags-of-european-countries-that-look-similar-Flag_of_Côte_d'Ivoire.svg — Ivory Coast

THE SLAVIC FLAGS

flags-of-european-countries-that-look-similar-200px-Flag_of_Russia.svg — Russia

flags-of-european-countries-that-look-similar-200px-Flag_of_Slovakia.svg — Slovakia

flags-of-european-countries-that-look-similar-200px-Flag_of_Slovenia.svg — Slovenia

flags-of-european-countries-that-look-similar-200px-Flag_of_the_Czech_Republic.svg — Czech Republic

flags-of-european-countries-that-look-similar-200px-Flag_of_Serbia.svg — Serbia

flags-of-european-countries-that-look-similar-200px-Flag_of_Croatia.svg — Croatia

Umm, and how about the Netherlands again?

AUSTRIA, LATVIA, LEBANON, AND TAHITI FLAGS

flags-of-european-countries-that-look-similar-200px-Flag_of_Austria.svg — Austria

flags-of-european-countries-that-look-similar-200px-Flag_of_Latvia.svg — Latvia

flags-of-european-countries-that-look-similar-200px-Flag_of_Lebanon.svg — Lebanon

flags-of-european-countries-that-look-similar-Flag_of_Tahiti.svg — Tahiti

SWITZERLAND AND TONGA FLAGS

flags-of-european-countries-that-look-similar-200px-Flag_of_Switzerland_(Pantone).svg — Switzerland

flags-of-european-countries-that-look-similar-200px-Flag_of_Tonga.svg — Kingdom of Tonga

LIECHTENSTEIN AND HAITI FLAGS

flags-of-european-countries-that-look-similar-200px-Flag_of_Liechtenstein.svg — Liechtenstein

flags-of-european-countries-that-look-similar-200px-Flag_of_Haiti.svg — Haiti

THE VATICAN, SAN MARINO, AND THE CANARY ISLANDS FLAGS

flags-of-european-countries-that-look-similar-200px-Flag_of_the_Vatican_City.svg — Vatican

flags-of-european-countries-that-look-similar-200px-Flag_of_San_Marino.svg — San Marino

flags-of-european-countries-that-look-similar-200px-Flag_of_the_Canary_Islands.svg — Canary Islands [ESP]

SICILY AND THE ISLE OF MAN FLAGS

flags-of-european-countries-that-look-similar-200px-Flag_of_Sicily.svg — Sicily [Italy]

flags-of-european-countries-that-look-similar-200px-Flag_of_the_Isle_of_Man.svg — Isle of Man [UK]

These last 2 (Sicily and the Isle of Man) aren’t nations but they share a very unique design only found in Europe called a triskelion. They’re there just for fun. In fact, there are many, many more flags around the world that look similar, I’ve just shown you the ones that are European in origin.

For example, compare the flag of India to that of Niger or Italy or Mexico. There are also numerous flags of territories that have the Union Jack in it from the Caribbean to the Pacific, all of which have had some sort of connection to the British Empire. If you dig even deeper down to the level of regional, state, and city flags you will see some startling and even puzzling similarities to international flags! There are a myriad of flag imposter/look-alikes yet to be explored.

LITHUANIA AND MYANMAR FLAGS

flags-of-european-countries-that-look-similar-200px-Flag_of_Lithuania.svg — Lithuania (Lietuva)

flags-of-european-countries-that-look-similar-200px-Flag_of_Myanmar.svg — Myanmar (Burma)

BELARUS, BURKINA FASO, AND MADAGASCAR

flags-of-european-countries-that-look-similar-200px-Flag_of_Belarus.svg — Belarus

flags-of-european-countries-that-look-similar-200px-Flag_of_Burkina_Faso.svg — Burkina Faso

flags-of-european-countries-that-look-similar-200px-Flag_of_Madagascar.svg — Madagascar

UKRAINE AND DALMATIA (CROATIA)

How would it feel to be connected to one of these flags? Maybe you already know which flags represent your origin, lucky you! Not many people even consider the connection between their DNA and their vexillology, only the lucky, intelligent ones. My own personal discoveries came with my DNA tests on Ancestry, believe it or not! If you would like to, check out Ancesry DNA and all of the wonderful discoveries that await, the genetic map you will get is your own personalized flag map!