Brussels Nativity Theft Highlights Challenges for Public Religious Art Installations

In the early hours of Saturday, November 29, the head of the Infant Jesus figure was stolen from a Christmas nativity displayed on the main square of Brussels, the capital of the European Union. Despite widespread surveillance cameras, the perpetrator has not yet been found.

Photo: commons.wikimedia.org by Gareth Harper, https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

The Nativity (Unsplash)

Controversial artistic installation sparks public debate

Since the Middle Ages, European cities have maintained the tradition of placing nativity scenes depicting the Holy Family at the birth of Jesus Christ in central squares and cathedrals. This year, the Brussels city hall experimented with an unconventional design, representing the faces of Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus using multicolored fabric fragments sewn into facial shapes. The installation cost the city 65,000 euros. Following public complaints, authorities fenced the display, through which the unknown individual entered to remove the Infant Jesus head.

According to local observers, thefts of nativity figures have become almost annual “sporting events.” Cities often prepare backup figures, but this year vandals only took the fabric head, leaving no replacement available.

Historical context of religious vandalism in Europe

Creative experiments with Christmas symbols are common in Brussels. In 2012, citizens gathered 25,000 signatures against a Christmas tree made of glass green squares resembling pharmacy crosses. Critics argued authorities chose unconventional designs to avoid offending Muslim and other non-Christian residents. Similar vandalism has occurred throughout Europe and the UK for over a decade, with citizens often donating funds to restore the damaged installations.

Notably, some attacks stem not only from anti-Christian individuals but also from authorities. For example, in 2024, Vienna’s central cathedral displayed a large crucifix upside-down, citing artistic experimentation. In parts of Catholic Italy, nativity scenes are no longer installed due to security concerns, and German cities sometimes cancel Christmas markets for safety reasons.

Rising attacks on Christians across Europe

Attacks on Christians in Europe have increased by 70% amid growing secularist and Islamist ideologies, reported Catholic Herald in 2020. Physical assaults, arson, vandalism, and discrimination by state authorities have risen sharply since 2019. A two-year study by the Vienna Observatory for the Intolerance and Discrimination Against Christians (OIDAC) identified the UK, France, Germany, Spain, and Sweden among the most hostile countries.

France annually records several hundred attacks and arsons on churches: 854 incidents of vandalism in 2023 and 770 in 2024. OIDAC Europe reported 2,211 hate crimes against Christians in 2024, including 274 attacks on individuals and a notable rise in church arsons. Most incidents occurred in France, the UK, Germany, Spain, and Austria.