Dutch heraldry

Coats of arms in the Netherlands were not controlled by an official heraldic system like the two in the United Kingdom, nor were they used solely by noble families.

Previously, arms for princes, would feature helms atop their heraldic achievement whereas females would use the royal crown.

Dutch civic heraldry is regulated by the High Council of Nobility (Dutch: Hoge Raad van Adel), which grants the arms of provinces, municipalities, water boards, Roman Catholic dioceses and Roman Catholic basilicas.

In the twentieth century, the faulty blazon of a number of these arms was subsequently corrected, when historical colours became clear or charges turned out to be misinterpreted.

[4] Generally, the High Council pursues a policy of stylistic simplicity, as decreed by Interior Ministry guidelines from 1977.

[7] Helmets, crests and mantling are generally absent in Dutch civic heraldry; instead a system of rank coronets is used.

A notable exception to this rule are arms granted to newly created municipalities of Flevoland in the late 1970s and early 1980s which feature seals, sealions and seahorses as supporters, the use of which was previously unknown in civic heraldry in the Netherlands.

[9] The High Council generally disapproves of quartering of existing arms[10] and has a policy not to include the figure of saints on shields.