The state flag of the Republic of Suriname was officially adopted in November 1975.
Description and proportions of the flag of Suriname
The flag of Suriname is a classic square-shaped panel, the length and width of which are related to each other in a ratio of 3: 2. According to the law of the country, it can be used by government agencies and citizens of Suriname for all purposes, both on land and on water.
The rectangular cloth of the flag of Suriname is divided horizontally into five parts of unequal width. The top and bottom stripes are the same size and have a medium green color. The middle part of the flag of Suriname is twice as wide as each of the green parts and is painted in a bright red hue. Between the green extreme and the red middle part there are white stripes, the width of each of which is half the width of the green stripe. In the center of the flag, within the red field, there is a five-pointed star, painted in bright yellow.
The colors of the Surinamese flag are important to the people of the country and have developed historically. The green tint symbolizes the fertile lands of the state, which bring generous harvests to peasants and farmers. White stripes remind of the desire of Surinamese for freedom and fair equality, and the red part of the flag - of the desire to build a progressive society. The five-pointed star of a golden hue symbolizes the unity of all the peoples of the country under the flag of Suriname in the name of achieving a worthy future.
The colors of the Surinamese flag are repeated on the country's coat of arms, which was officially adopted at the same time as the flag. The coat of arms is an oval shield on which two warriors - the indigenous inhabitants of Suriname - rest. The shield depicts a yellow sailboat on blue and white stylized waves and a green palm, which is an important symbol for the righteous man of Surinamese origin.
History of the flag of Suriname
Suriname was colonized in the early 17th century by Britain, which transferred ownership of it to the Netherlands in 1667. For three centuries, the country was in the status of a Dutch colony. Earlier, from 1966 to 1975, its flag was a white cloth, on which there were five interconnected stars. The country, then called Netherlands Guiana, was an annexed territory of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Then Suriname received its own name, independence and a new flag, which has not changed since 1975.
