Batavian flag.TheBatavian flag (contemporary Dutch:Bataafsche vlag; also calledNationale vlag, "National flag"[1]) is a Dutchhistorical flag. It was designed byDirk Langendijk in January 1796,[2] and introduced in March 1796 as the official flag of thenavy of theBatavian Republic, replacing theStatenvlag (itself originating from thePrince's Flag).
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The flag's colours and rows remained exactly the same (although the red and blue appear to have grown darker), but an important alteration was done by adding ajack in the upper left corner, several thumbs from the flagpole. This constituted a white rectangle, containing:[1][3]
On 1 March 1796, the Batavian flag was introduced as theBatavian Navy's ensign. The flag, without theDutch Maiden in the upper left-hand corner, was adopted as theKingdom of Holland's flag on 5 June 1806. This angered many Dutch sailors as they were used to theStatenvlag, under which they had won many battles in decades past. In August 1806, a riot broke out amongst the crews of thenavy of the Kingdom of Holland'sTexel andAmsterdam squadrons, stating they no longer wished to sail under the new flag. Several sailors refused to take an oath of loyalty to KingLouis Bonaparte, and declared they did not want to take orders from his officers.[1]
The mutiny was severely punished, with one mutineer being shot through the head at point-blank range byVice-admiralJan Willem de Winter. To calm the mutineers down, theStatenvlag was hoisted on the Dutch navy's warships, bringing the mutiny to an end. As a result of the mutiny, theStatenvlag became the Dutch navy'sde facto flag, which was affirmed by a royal decree issued on 1 December 1807. However, its name was changed toKoninklijke Hollandsche Vlag ("Royal Flag of Holland").[1]
