Luxembourg - Belgium

Luxembourg and i mean the Belgian province not the independent grand duchy. It is the largest province of Belgium but the least populated, there live 284 thousand people, for comparison the capital Arlon has only 28 thousand inhabitants and this is the largest place in the province. Luxembourg is for 80 percent part of the densely wooded Ardennes region, who wants some peace and quit this is the place in an busy country of Belgium. Limited winter sports are possible at the highest hills, the highest is 694 m (2,277 ft). Allied generals in World War II thought the densely woods was impenetrable to massed vehicular traffic like tanks. But the Nazi-Germany tried anyway and the Battle of the Bulge occurred and eventually the are defeated by the allies. Many villages have as keepsake an tank placed in their village. The most southern part of the province is called Gaume also known as Belgian Lorraine which terrain differs from the Ardennes, the hills are lower and the temperature is higher. Who like the outdoors, old castles, pittoresque villages, good food and drinks, Luxembourg has it all. So let's take an look at the flag.

The has three horizontal stripes in the colors red, white and blue with an coat of arms in the center. The is inspired by the flag of the grand duchy of Luxembourg which once part of it until 1839 when the Belgians keep its part. Only the blue is darker and in that matter it's the same as the flag of the Netherlands. The grand duchy and the Netherlands has both an royal family with the name Nassau, but the flags has nothing to do with each other. The Luxembourg flag and province take the colors of the coat of arms, the province made the blue darker to distinguish it self. But the coat of arms is the same as the one of the grand duchy, an red lion overlaid white and blue stripes with an ducal crown. The red lion is derivative from the medieval duchy of Limburg and stripes are from the medieval counts of Luxembourg. The coat of arms is in use since 13th century and older than any flag of the Netherlands and Luxembourg itself, sometimes an stretched out of coat of arms is in use. Coincidental looking flag which at least three close by entities use it, reunite the province with Luxembourg or take an another flag.