You see them everywhere once you start looking. Most people think of flags as horizontal bands—the "stripes" we see on the US flag or the German tricolor. But flags with red and white vertical stripes are a different beast entirely. They aren't just flipped versions of common designs. They carry specific histories, maritime quirks, and some genuinely weird administrative stories that go back centuries. Honestly, if you’re traveling through Europe or North America and see these vertical patterns, you’re likely looking at something much more local or specialized than a simple national banner.
Why the vertical orientation actually matters
Most flags are horizontal because of the way wind works. A horizontal stripe catches the breeze and ripples predictably. Vertical stripes? They’re a bit more stubborn. Historically, these designs often popped up as "paly" patterns in heraldry—a fancy way of saying vertical bars on a shield.
Take the flag of Barletta, Italy. It’s got these bold, alternating red and white vertical stripes. It isn't just a random choice; it’s tied to the city's ancient coat of arms. When you walk through the streets of Barletta, you see these stripes everywhere. It feels more like a brand identity than just a piece of fabric. That's the thing about vertical stripes: they feel architectural. They mirror the columns of buildings.
The curious case of the American Customs Ensign
This is the one that trips up most trivia buffs. If you see a flag with red and white vertical stripes in a US port, you aren't looking at a weird version of the Stars and Stripes. You're looking at the United States Customs Ensign.
It’s got 16 vertical stripes. Why sixteen? Because back in 1799, when Alexander Hamilton was running the show at the Treasury, there were 16 states in the Union. They’ve never changed it. They just kept it at sixteen. It's a living fossil of American history. You’ll see it flying on Coast Guard cutters and at ports of entry. It’s designed to be distinct so that merchant ships know exactly who is coming aboard to check their paperwork. If it were horizontal, it might get confused with the national flag at a distance. The verticality is a functional "Stop" sign.
Beyond the US: The European vertical tradition
Europe is where things get really messy and interesting. In the US, we’re used to the "Stars and Stripes," but European vexillology (the study of flags) is obsessed with verticality.
Consider Peru. Okay, it’s not Europe, but it follows the French revolutionary style of vertical bands. Red, white, red. It’s simple. It’s striking. Legend says the designer, José de San Martín, saw a flock of flamingos with white chests and red wings and thought, "Yeah, that’s the vibe." Whether that’s 100% true or just a great PR story for the 1820s is up for debate, but the result is one of the most recognizable vertical designs in the world.
- The Flag of Mons (Belgium): This one is a deep cut. It features four red and four white vertical stripes. It’s old-school.
- The "Banner of the People": In some historical Italian contexts, vertical red and white stripes represented the Popolo, the organized middle class of the medieval communes.
- The Coat of Arms of Hindelang: A small German municipality that uses the vertical red-and-white motif in its civic heraldry.
The "Red and White" obsession in maritime signals
If you’re out on the water, colors aren't about patriotism. They’re about survival. Flags with red and white vertical stripes serve a very specific purpose in the International Code of Signals.
Look at the "H" (Hotel) flag. It’s split vertically: white on the left, red on the right. If you see this flying on a ship, it means "I have a pilot on board." It’s a signal of specialized navigation. Then there’s the "U" (Uniform) flag, which is a red and white checkered pattern, but it's often mistaken for stripes at high speeds or low visibility.
👉 See also: Why the Miami County Fairgrounds in Ohio is More Than Just a Summer Tradition
But the real "vertical" star of the sea is the Pilot White/Red flag used in various jurisdictions to indicate a pilot vessel. In some older signal books, vertical stripes were used to denote specific "danger" or "caution" zones because they contrast so sharply against the blue of the ocean and the horizontal line of the horizon.
The psychological impact of the vertical stripe
Designers will tell you that vertical lines evoke height, strength, and stability. When a city like Lucca in Tuscany uses red and white (though often in horizontal or quartered configurations), the vertical variants that appear in festivals feel like they’re reaching for the sky.
There’s a reason you don't see many vertical stripes on modern national flags. Most modern countries want to look "fast" or "moving," which horizontal lines provide. Vertical stripes look like a gate. They look like a barrier. They say, "This is a specific place, and you are entering it." It’s a very territorial way to design a flag.
🔗 Read more: Silver Strand Beach Ventura: Why Locals Actually Love This Gritty Coastal Stretch
A few common misconceptions
People often confuse these with the flag of Malta. Malta is vertical, but it’s just two big blocks: white on the hoist (the left) and red on the fly (the right). No stripes. Just two solid panels. Then there’s the Alumni flags of various universities. Plenty of colleges with red and white colors will produce vertical "spirit" banners that people mistake for official municipal flags. They aren't. They’re just branding.
Also, don't get these confused with the Sons of Liberty flag. That one had nine vertical stripes—five red and four white. It was a protest flag. It was meant to be a middle finger to the British Crown. It’s a "rebellious" use of the vertical stripe that eventually influenced the horizontal stripes of the modern US flag.
How to identify what you're actually looking at
If you see a flag with red and white vertical stripes and you aren't sure what it is, ask yourself these three things:
- Where am I? If you’re at a port, it’s likely a Customs or Pilot flag.
- How many stripes? If it’s exactly sixteen, you’re looking at US Treasury history.
- Is there a crest? Many Spanish and Italian cities use red and white vertical stripes as a background for a more complex central coat of arms.
Surprising facts about red/white verticality
- The Republic of Ragusa (modern-day Dubrovnik) used variations of red and white in its heraldry for centuries, often appearing in vertical formats on shields.
- The Amalfi Coast cities sometimes use vertical banners during the Regatta of the Ancient Maritime Republics.
- Vertical stripes are significantly more expensive to manufacture for large-scale use because the "flutter" wear-and-tear hits the seams harder than horizontal ones.
The Actionable Guide to Flag Spotting
Next time you're traveling, keep an eye on the government buildings near the water. Flags with red and white vertical stripes are almost always a sign of "authority" rather than "nationality." They mark the people who regulate, the people who guide, and the people who guard the borders.
If you're a flag collector or a history buff, start by looking into the 1799 Customs Act. It’s the best way to understand how a simple design choice became a permanent fixture of maritime law. You can actually buy authentic Customs Ensigns, but be careful flying them on your own boat—there are still strict rules about "impersonating" a federal vessel.
For the most interesting visual experience, head to the Mediterranean. The mix of civic pride and naval history means you’ll see more vertical red and white variations in a single weekend in Italy or Spain than you’ll see in a year anywhere else. Look for the local "contrada" flags or the city banners that come out during feast days. That's where the real history is hidden.
Next Steps for the Flag Enthusiast:
- Check the International Code of Signals (ICS) manual to see how red and white are used to communicate without words.
- Visit a US Port of Entry to see the 16-stripe Ensign in its natural habitat.
- Research the heraldry of the Crown of Aragon—it’s the "ancestor" of many red and white (and yellow) vertical patterns you see throughout Southern Europe today.