The Netherlands is so closely linked with orange because of its royal family: the House of Orange‑Nassau.

Quick Scoop

  • The name “Orange” originally comes from the medieval Principality of Orange in what is now southern France, which was held by the ancestors of the Dutch royal family.
  • William of Orange (William the Silent) became the leader of the Dutch Revolt against Spanish rule in the 16th century, turning “Orange” into a powerful symbol of resistance, unity, and independence.
  • Over time, orange evolved into the unofficial national color of the Netherlands, even though the flag is red, white, and blue.
  • Today, you see seas of orange during:
    • King’s Day (the king’s birthday celebrations).
* Major sports events (especially football), where the national teams wear orange and fans call themselves the _Oranje_ or _Oranje Legioen_.
  • Orange also shows up in cultural ideas like Oranjekoorts (“Orange Fever”) to describe the wild, festive national mood when the country celebrates together.

So the Netherlands is “orange” not because of the flag, but because the royal dynasty with “Orange” in its name became a historic symbol of Dutch identity, pride, and independence—and that color stuck all the way into modern sports, holidays, and national branding.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.