The city has announced the installation will recur annually during the holiday season for eight years.

Brussels is unveiling a new Christmas nativity scene on the Grand-Place, titled Les Etoffes de la Nativité, replacing the traditional wooden figures with life-sized fabric characters under a translucent canopy.

The installation features fabric figures and a transparent structure inspired by Laeken greenhouses, with curtains drawn in bad weather or at night to protect the display.

City officials decided to replace the aging nativity, with Mayor Philippe Close underscoring the balance between tradition and secular leadership.

Pascale Leblanc and her daughter helped install the fabric figures, highlighting collaboration with local textile professionals.

Brussels-based artist Victoria-Maria was selected through a call for proposals and partnered with Atelier By Souveraine to implement the installation.

The display, positioned beside the Grand-Place Christmas tree, is designed to integrate seamlessly with the square’s layout and flow.

The project received approval from the Cathedral of Saints-Michel-et-Gudule after consultations with the aldermanic college and church authorities.

Organizers emphasize inclusivity by reflecting a diverse range of skin tones, ensuring broader identification with the scene.

The installation is planned to run for at least five years, with no immediate replacement anticipated for roughly a decade, signaling durability.

The figures are cloth, life-sized nativity characters with face features intentionally omitted and skin tones rendered in a patchwork, nearly pixelated style to promote inclusivity.

The project, named Les Etoffes de la Nativité, offers a 360-degree viewing experience and reflects a fairy-tale aesthetic envisioned by Victoria-Maria.