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Nord-Pas-de-Calais (Region, France)

by Philippe-Pierre Darras

The flag is used by the Region and by the Regional Council, which has no specific flag.

Administrative data
Meaning and specifications of the flag
Alternative flag

See also:

Administrative data

Departments: Nord, Pas-de-Calais
Bordering Region: Picardie
Bordering country: Belgium
Traditional provinces: Flandre, Artois, Picardie

Area: 12,413 km²Population (1995): 3,994,800 inhabitants
Regional prefecture: Lille

Meaning and specifications of the flag

The logo was created in 1982 was 'renovated' in 1993 but still combines a heart and a belfry. The heart is the universal symbol of love and friendship and expresses the most essential qualities of the Region's inhabitants : generous, welcoming, wholehearted. It is 'the' sign of life. Its yellow color symbolizes youth, light and the sun. The belfry is a durable witness of independence. It is the Region's most particular landmark : the relief of an otherwise fairly flat region, its history and particularity. Its blue color stands for the European future of Nord-Pas-de-Calais.

Philippe-Pierre Darras, 18 January 1999

This flag was adopted in 1993 when the new logo replaced the old one. This new logo is a more stylised version of the old logo with black heart and belfry.
The flag exists in several proportions 1 x 1,50 m; 1,2 x 1,8 m; 1,5 x 2,25 m; 2 x 3 m.
The former logo dated from 1982 and had been created by the Agency OPN in Lille. This current logo dates from 1993 and was created by the Agency Quetzal-Jérôme Watrelot in Marcq-en-Baroeul.

The orange colour corresponds to Pantone 1235 C or M:30%-J:100%.
The blue colour corresponds to Pantone 288 C or C:100%-M:70%-N:20%.

On the flag the width of the orange stripe is ca. 4/18 of the width of the flag, the height of the logo corresponds to ca. 21/24 of the height of the flag.

Source: Regional Council of Nord-Pas-de-Calais.

Pascal Vagnat, 24 November 1998

Alternative flag

In the French flag catalogues, the vertical orange stripe is often omitted.

Pascal Vagnat , 21 January 1999