Flag flying days in Norway



Dates when the Norwegian state flag is flown by all branches of government and state agencies are listed in Article 4 of the regulations concerning the use of the state flag and the merchant flag, as modified by Royal Resolution of 3 December 2004. Civilians are also encouraged to display the national flag on these flag flying days. The flag is flown on the birthday of a member of the Norwegian Royal House, on some Christian holidays and on the dates of significant events of Norwegian history.

On the Day of the Sami people, both state institutions and civilians are encouraged, but not required, to fly the Sami flag in addition to the Norwegian flag.

Full staff
The Norwegian flag is flown at full staff on the following days:

Half staff
On days designated as official days of mourning the state flag is to be flown at half staff by state and government agencies. There are no permanent days of mourning, and this provision only comes into use upon the death of a member of the Royal House or as designated by the Government. Upon the death of a member of the Royal House the flag is to be displayed at half staff each day from the announcement of death until the end of the burial service. If the burial service of a non-royal person connected to an individual public institution occurs on a flag flying day, the flag flown by that institution is lowered to half staff until the burial service is over. One such example of a designated official day of mourning was during the immediate aftermath of the 2011 Norway attacks, on which flags throughout Norway were flown at half staff as a symbol of mourning for the victims.

Former flag days
The flag is flown only for living members of the Royal House. When a member of the Royal family dies or leaves the Royal House, their birthday ceases to be a flag flying day. The Royal House is defined as consisting of the Monarch, those directly in line of succession and their spouses. The three living princesses have left the Royal House as a result of their marriages.