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Weesp (The Netherlands)

Noord-Holland province

Shipmate Flagchart : http://www.shipmate.nl/flags.htm
adopted 28 Jun 1973.

Weesp municipality
1973 flag
Unofficial old flag
Weesp pre-1595 flag

See also:

Weesp municipality

Population (1 Jan 2003): 17.885; area: 21,88 km². Settlements: Weesp (seat), De Horn, Uitermeer.
The CoA of Weesp consists of a field of azure, with in the center a bar of silver, which is supposed to symbolize the Vecht river. It was granted 26 Jun 1816 by the High Council of Nobility. On the patio of the councilhouse one can view an older version, with two lions holding the shield. The fonts of the Weesp flag were changed 28 Jun 1973.

1973 flag

Shipmate Flagchart : http://www.shipmate.nl/flags.htm
Flag in use until 1973.

Unofficial old flag

Shipmate Flagchart : http://www.shipmate.nl/flags.htm

Description: two equally wide horizontal stripes of blue and white.
This flag was not official, but used on festive occasions. The colors were derived from the municipal arms.
Source: Sierksma's Nederlands Vlaggenboek, 1962.

Weesp pre-1595 flag

by Jarig Bakker, 6 Nov 2003

Originally the flags of Weesp and Muiden were identical to their arms: three stripes in the colors blue, white, blue. The stripes in the flag of Weesp were vertical, and on the Muiden flag horizontal. However it appeared that the skippers were avoiding paying duties by sometimes flying the flag horizontally, sometimes vertically, so the States of Holland required in 13 Jul 1595 that both flags should be flown horizontally. They received in the white stripe two black letters, MD for Muiden, WS for Weesp.
Source: the Weesp municipal website.
This story I can't find in my (rather limited) library - I don't know whether the Weesp privileges were still applicable in 1595, or whether Muiden had some privileges, but I assume for the trick to work quickly that square flags were used till 1595.
Jarig Bakker, 6 Nov 2003