We’ve got our own tartan!

The design of the “Tartan of Holland” combines the colours of the Netherlands national flag (Red, White and Blue) with Orange, for the Royal House of Orange.

Holland is historically a seafaring nation ((Netherlands, History of the Netherlands, Michiel de Ruyter, 7 Provincien, Dutch East India Company (VOC), Republic of the Seven United Netherlands, Dutch Golden Age)), having discovered and colonised many distant lands such as the Dutch East Indies. The design of “Tartan of Holland” thus honours the intrepid Dutch explorer, sailing homeward at sunset on an East India sea – the Flying Dutchman .

Its central focus is sunset on the horizon, picked out at the pivot by a hot white core encircled in bright orange, with a blood orange overcheck (the setting sun’s rays), then blending into a warm red sky (red sky at night, the sailors’ delight).

The background sets the dying sun against a rapidly darkening East India sea (first royal blue, then navy blue), with a flick of white foam on the crest of the bow wave and a hint of a silver moon, as our sturdy Dutch frigate carries us safely homeward.

[text copied from: Tartan of Holland]