Flag of Flemish Brabant

"Sable a lion or armed and langued gules an escutcheon gules a fess argent"

The flag of Flemish Brabant was adopted on January 17, 1995, and was approved on April 16, 1996. It consists of a yellow lion with a red tongue and claws (Leo Belgicus) on a black field. The flag is displayed on all official buildings of the province. The lion is based on the Brabantian lion of the Duchy of Brabant, as well as the colors of the Belgian flag.

In the center of the lion, a heart shield is depicted in the color combination red-white-red. These are the official colors of Leuven, the capital of the province, and appear in this color order in both the flag and the coat of arms of Leuven.

According to legend, this color combination (red-white-red) refers to the battle against the Vikings in 891. Arnulf of Carinthia inflicted a crushing defeat on the Vikings at that time. During the battle, so much blood was shed that the two banks of the Dyle turned red (the two red bands), with the Dyle flowing between them (the white band). In reality, the flag of Leuven carries the colors of Lower Lotharingia and is likely not older than the 13th century

The official description of the flag goes as followed:

Sable a lion or armed and langued gules an escutcheon gules a fess argent

a sable gold lion armed and langued red and an escutheon red a fess white