Meanwhile in Denmark
The history of national flags is not very clear. But the Danish flag is said to be the oldest. It is a white cross on a red background. It has inspired other flags. When it became the national flag of Denmark, though, is uncertain. It may have been first used by a Danish king in the mid-1300s.
Another very influential early flag is the flag of the Netherlands. It was introduced in 1572 and has three horizontal stripes. A flag with three different coloured stripes is called a tricolour.
The most famous tricolour is the French flag, which has three vertical stripes. It came into use in France after the French Revolution in 1790.
Teen earns his stripes
Everybody knows the 'Stars and Stripes' - the flag of the United States. It is the only flag on the moon. In fact, there are six of them up there.
