Amersfoort - The Netherlands

Amersfoort is the second largest city in the Dutch province of Utrecht with an population of around 156 thousand. Due to its central location, it is one of the busiest railway junctions in the Netherlands. Also its an important garrison town of the Dutch military. Important institutions are located in this city and that also has to do with its location. The city center has an old medieval character with many monuments and canals. One of those old structures is the Koppelpoort which functions as an land and water-gate. Still its can be closed with an medieval system, at least 12 wheel-turners are needed for this task. Talking about that central location of Amersfoort the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwentoren with an elevation of 98.33 metres (322 ft 7 in) and can not be missed, also the tower has an nickname namely "Lange Jan" or in English "Long John". The missing adjacent church building was blown up in 1787 when they used it as an storage for gunpowder. Nevertheless the tower was considered the central point of the Netherlands for an long time. So lets take an look at the flag.

There is lot of red and white stripes on the flag that comes from the small Saint George's Cross. Its also the patron saint of the city and other entities like England, the nation of Georgia, London, Genoa, Milan and many others. But its also the patron saint of soldiers, farmers, miners, hospitals, scouting, tourists and cattle. Saint George can invoke for the weather and against danger of war, temptations, fever and the plague. If I treat more cities and places with Saint George's Cross, then this will largely be the explanation. This flag is an good original variant of an many used cross.

North Dakota - United States

North Dakota is one of the lesser known American states, even for the Americans itself. North Dakota is an Midwestern state on the Great Plains and is the fourth sparsely state of America with an population of around 760 thousand. The winters are pretty cold over here but the climate is very suitable for agriculture, which thrives and there are some oil wells too. The state is named after the Dakota tribe which is part of the Sioux nation, the name Dakota means "ally" in their language. The pioneers that settled the area are from mostly from German (47.2%) and Norwegian (30.8%) descent, who like the area to farm it. There heritage is still present here and don't forget the Native Americans which presence is noticeable and deserve respect. The least visited state and the distant location is the cause of it, but going there and you'ill not be disappointed of the stunning nature. So lets take an look at the flag.

Like many state flags there is an blue background. The rest is an North Dakotan impression of the Great Seal of the United States. The bald-eagle is in an different position, the olive branche and arrows are different of the Great Seal. The motto holding in its beak is there but in an different color, its Latin for "out of many, one" by the way. The 13 stars are there to but in another position, they stand for the original 13 states. The olive branch stands by the way for that the United States has an strong desire for peace. In front of the bald-eagle is an shield in the American colors like the one on the Great Seal. The only North Dakotan things on the flag is the sunburst on to in an crown shape. The scroll on the bottom with "North Dakota" on it, the big no of vexillologists. Try to make an flag original hopeless fails to copy the Great Seal, which image you can see below. 

Frankfurt an der Oder - Germany

Frankfurt an der Oder or also known as just Frankfurt (Oder) but this is not the very well known Frankfurt am Main Germany's financial capital. Frankfurt an der Oder is found at the bord of the river Oder that also functions as an border with Poland. The former neighborhood of Dammvorstadt on the right bank of the Oder is since 1945 part of Poland, its now known as Słubice, connected with the Stadtbrücke were Germans come to cheap cigarettes, liquor and fuel. Frankfurt (Oder) has an population of around 60 thousand and the Polish side has around 18 thousand. The city is found in the German state of Brandenburg and not forget its was part of communist East Germany from 1945 till 1990. That era gives the city typical communist architecture with wide streets and high ugly apartment building. After the reunification of Germany the university was reopened to get some youth to the city. So lets take an look at the flag.

The colors red, green and white comes from the coat of arms, so lets dissect that part. On top of the gate you will see an little red eagle, that the eagle of Brandenburg the count gives city rights to Frankfurt. The red rooster has to do with the Germanic tribe of the Francs those who are responsible for France. Also the Latin word for the Francs is "gallus" and that is also Latin for "rooster". The Francs are original from this parts of Europe before the Migration Period, and that fact gives the name to this city "Fort of the Francs". The red gate is open and that meant every one is welcome, but the rooster watchfully. Word game like flag that starting tp get busy, but its okay.

Jerusalem - Israel

Jerusalem one of the twenty oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, also an confusing one. Dated back to 2800 BC and over time the three Abrahamic religions that see this city as one of their holiest or the most holiest. That meant that over the centuries there was a lot of fighting and controversies that still happen. Israel and the Palestine Authority claimed it as its capital, also there is limited recognition to avoid controversy but its not working well. The Old City is small of area but its packed with religious importance of the three Abrahamic religions. The well known sights are Temple Mount, Western Wall, Dome of the Rock, al-Aqsa Mosque, the Church of the Holy Sepulchreand Garden Tomb. And many more things are to see but watch out with your unattended belongings, security is tight and everything could'be an explosive in there eyes and remove and destroys it quickly. Many sights take care of your dress, men wear long pants, closed shirts with sleeves and head covering and for women skirts fall below the knee, closed shirt with elbow sleeves with no exposing of cleavage and stomach. No smoking on Shabbat and Jewish holidays and use of electronic devices. And non-Muslims are not allowed on the Temple Mount during prayer, also don't eat, drink and smoke during Ramadam. So keep on eye on that and you ready to go. So lets take an look at the flag.

The flag has an white background and two horizontal blue stripes. The blue stripes represented the tallit also know as the Jewish praying shawl. In the center we see the emblem of Jerusalem. Its consists the Lion of Judah an Jewish national symbol. Many European coat of arms with lions are derived from this symbol. And medieval scholastics believed that the lioness gave birth to her young death and the lion's roar brought the young to life after three days. It was the same with Christ in their statement. After three days in the grave, Christ was raised up by the voice of God according to the teachings of the church. The background shows the Western Wall also known as kotel, were Jews are pray and left written prayer notes in the wall. The olive branches flanked the lion, which is symbol of peace in the western world and the Arabic world. On top an Hebrew text says Jerusalem. An religious looking flag to reach out in peace.

Namur - Belgium

Namur is an province of Belgium but also the capital has the same name, also its part of the French speaking region of Wallonia. As part of Belgium it have also an Dutch name, namely Namen. Its the second least densely province with an population around 492 thousand, but its an picturesque one. Namur is an part of the Hesbaye or Haspengouw in Dutch. The area is sparsely populated because its very fertile, the cultivated crops are mostly wheat and sugar beets in this hilly landscape. Also is Namur part of the Condroz and this area can be seen as an transition between Hesbaye and the Ardennes. The Condroz is also sparsely populated and mainly rural with hills, fertile grounds with farms and small woodlands. The last is one of Europe last wildest regions, the Ardennes with its extensive forests, hills, ridges and its overall very rough terrain. Due the dense forests wildlife thrives animals like wild boar, deer, birds of prey, lynx and reintroduced beavers, wolves are sighted the last years. So lets take an look at the flag.

This is an quick one. The traditional colors of Namur are black and yellow, but the city of Namur using it. Also the city use an coat of arms with an black lion on an yellow background, its an Flemish lion which was given by duke Phillip the Good of Burgundy. But the then county of Namur was given that same lion but to distinguish of Flanders the put an red diagonal bar in front of the lion. So to also distinguish of the flag of the city Namur they replaced the yellow with red and the the colors are in vertical position instead horizontal of the city. Also the reckless duke Charles the Bold of Burgundy use these colors. An flag to distinguish from an city, the should use some yellow.

Canary Islands - Spain

Canary Islands comprise of 7 main islands and some smaller ones, its an autonomous region of Spain. Its located in the Atlantic Ocean and is around 100 km (62 mi) west of Morocco and the disputed Western Sahara. The most populous archipelago of the Macaronesia region, the other archipelago's are the Azores, Madeira which are part of Portugal and the nation of Cape Verde. The region comprise of two provinces namely Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Las Palmas. Its the only Spanish region with two capitals and has similar names as the provinces, namely Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. The province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife is the western part of the archipelago and comprise out of 4 main islands. Tenerife is the biggest of all the islands and has with Mount Teide the third highest volcano in the world and the highest elevation of Spain with 3,718 metre (12,198 ft). La Gomera is like all the island of volcanic origin and due its rough rocky terrain, the local people created an language of whistling called Silbo Gomero. El Hierro is the smallest and most southwestern island and point of Spain. And its an UNESCO Biosphere Reserve which attracts nature lovers. La Palma is the fifth largest island and the steepest, very volcanic and all ingredients of an tsunami are here possible. Beautiful nature and an good place to gaze the stars, several observatories build here for that purpose. The province of Las Palmas is the eastern part and comprise out of 3 main islands. Gran Canaria despite its name is the third largest island of the archipelago and it act as an mini continent. Many climate regions are found on this island, forests in the north and desert in the south. And all in between within an sub-tropical climate which attracts many tourists for an sunny vacation. Fuerteventura is the second largest island of the Canary Islands and the oldest of them all but no volcanic activity since 5000 years or so. With around 3000 hours of sunshine and lot of beaches its an ideal vacation destination. Lanzarote the closest to the African mainland and so first settled by men and visited by the Romans and eventually became an part of Spain. Volcanic active and the climate is kind of desert due its proximity to the Sahara. Canary Islands has an population of around 2,1 milliom and millions of tourist that visited the islands trough the year. So lets take an look at the flag.

Three vertical bands in the colors white, blue and yellow. Blue and white are the colors of the island Tenerife, the city and province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, and flag similar to Scotland. Blue and yellow are the colors of the island of Gran Canaria and Las Palmas the city. The province use an blue and white flag instead. This flag above is the civic flag and there is also an state flag with coat of arms. The two supports are dogs and the islands named after that animal, canis is Latin for dog which were found when they discover the islands. The shield has an blue background with 7 white triangle shape figures. The blue is the sea and the figure are the islands. The royal Spanish crown on top and under the motto "Oceano" which has probably to do with the Ocean. Fine simple flag that not everyone agree with it because the whole thing is to Gran Canaria.

British Antarctic Territory - United Kingdom

British Antarctic Territory it comprises everything between the region south 60°S latitude  and longitudes 20°W and 80°W, forming an wedge shape to the South Pole on Antarctica. The archipelagos of the South Shetland Islands and South Orkney Islands which are now only populated with researchers and scientists. In the past the islands were visited by whale and seal hunters, now Antarctica cruises with whale en seal watching tourist visited the area. The rest of the territory comprise the Antarctic peninsula and its divided in several regions. The mainland part is called Graham Land and its closest to the South American continent. Alexander Island is the biggest island of Antarctica and the British has there an meteorological base since 1950, the island has an size around of Denmark. In 2012 the portion south of the Antarctic Peninsula named Queen Elisabeth Land, it's was that year the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. The complete area of the British Antarctic Territory is smaller than the nation of Guatemala. But the area is claimed by the Chileans and Argentinians and they have research base in the area too like the British and other countries. All claims on Antarctica are suspended since the Antarctic Treaty of 1961. But there is an flag and so lets take an look at the flag.

Most British oversea territories uses Blue Ensigns and in the past also Red ensigns, only Bermuda use one nowadays. The blue ones were used by ships which are commanded by an Royal navy officer or ships in public service. The red ones used by British merchant and passenger ships. This White Ensign used by the British navy and its the only oversea territory with such one, but the navy put an St. George's Cross on it. British Antarctic Territory use an coat of arms instead which i explain. The left supporter is an lion which represented the United Kingdom, the right one is an Emperor penguin is represented the Antarctic wildlife. The lion stands on grass and the penguin on ice, i don't get the grass because only mosses grown on Antarctica. On top of the helmet you see an ship, the RRS Discovery which brings Robert Falcon Scott en Ernest Shackleton to the ice continent for exploration, the ship is wrong it must be an steamship. The torch in the center symbolize enlightenment, And the white background with the blue waves symbolize the arctic ocean. 

The motto says "Research and Discovery" and that what they do there. Typical oversee territory flag with only exception the White Ensign make it special.