Behold the flag for the City of Amsterdam.

In his 2015 TED Talk design journalist Roman Mars described it as being the most “badass” city flag in the world because of its simplicity and popular appeal.

The flag was officially adopted in 1975 and the XXX that it features can be seen everywhere in Amsterdam: on the flags, on the coat of arms, on municipal buildings, on rubbish bins, on drain covers, on any manner of souvenir … and on the ubiquitous bollards designed to keep cars off the footpaths (Amsterdamertjes or little Amsterdammers) … not to mention on the many Amsterdammers who have had that “XXX” tattooed into their skin, somewhere discreet … or sometimes indiscreet.

So, where does the XXX come from?

There are a number of theories, both historical and popular:

X: The crosses reference St. Andrew, who was martyred in the 1st century AD and crucified on an X shaped cross. So called St. Andrew’s Crosses have appeared on Amsterdam’s coat of arms since 1505.

X: The diagonal cross “saltires" represent the three disasters that beset ancient Amsterdam: floods generally, the Great Fire (1452) and the Black Death (1663 to 1669). The symbol is there to ward off future threats. But note … this theory has been debunked as the uses of St. Andrew’s Crosses by noble families in the area predate the Black Death.

X: The crosses represent the three places where it was possible to cross the River Amstel, denoted by the black stripe background to the crosses on the flag.

X: They represent Amsterdam’s seXXX industry. Given the first thing tourists see when they disembark at Central Station is one sex shop after another, it’s no wonder that would be the presumption by visitors to the city.

X: They reference the coat of arms of the Persijn family, one of the oldest noble families in the region and owners of large tracts of land in the capital. The knight Jan Persijn was “Lord" of Amsterdam from 1280 to 1282. His family’s shield featured St. Andrew’s Crosses.

X: Finally, our Amsterdammer friend Ed van Gelderen (featured with XXX tattoo in our image gallery) reckons that the XXX references the three monks who blessed the River Amstel dam from which Amsterdam derived its name.

Got any theories to add?
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Wikipedia Reference: Flag of Amsterdam | (Text) CC BY-SA

Images

1. XXX
2. City of Amsterdam Coat of Arms: Heldhaftig, Vastberaden, Barmhartig "Valiant, Steadfast, Compassionate"
3. City of Amsterdam Flag
4. Amsterdam City Furniture
5. XXX Rubbish Bin
6. XXX Manhole Cover
7. Welcome XXX
8. "Amsterdamertjes" Little Amsterdammers to keep cars off the footpaths
9. Roman Mars at TED 2015. Watch HERE.
10. Ed van Gelderen with XXX Tattoo. Dutch Perfection (painters) in Sydney.
11. Remo peers through an X in Amsterdam