Christmas Cribs: The Kribkes in Limburg
Do you know that feeling? That first winter chill, the scent of pine needles… and somewhere in the house, a little stable is waiting. The nativity scene, or kribke, as we lovingly call it here in Limburg brings back childhood memories for many. For me too.
Where the magic started for me
I was raised Protestant. At home, we had a clear rule: no worshipping images. But at the Catholic primary school I went to, something truly special happened every year during Advent. It started very quietly. Just an ox and a donkey in an empty stable. Then, day by day, Mary and Joseph moved a little closer. On Christmas Eve, the angel appeared and there, in the tiny manger, lay baby Jesus. That was the moment, the magical centre of it all!
Then came the shepherds. And on 6 January, the Three Wise Men joined. I loved it. I still do.
The crib as a living scene
So where did the first kribke come from? Let’s go back to the year 1223, to Italy. A very special man, Saint Francis of Assisi wanted people to truly feel what the birth of Jesus might have been like. In a cave in the village of Greccio, he set up a manger with straw, along with a real ox and donkey. People gathered there at night to celebrate Christmas. It was different. Tangible. Real. People were touched by it. The Christmas crib was born.
From the 19th century onwards, it also became common in the Netherlands, especially in Catholic families to place a crib in the home. Fun fact: the oldest nativity scene in Northwest Europe can be seen at Museum W in Weert.
Where our family tradition began
When my husband and I celebrated our first Christmas together, we bought a nativity set in a small, traditional shop in Roermond. My father-in-law kindly built a wooden stable to go with it. When our children were born, we added a sturdy Fisher-Price crib. A classic! We still have it. It even had a little angel that played Away in a Manger when you pressed it. And yes, after 6 January, I was always glad to pack the whole scene away in the attic. That melody... it stuck in your head. Until the next year, when the Christmas feeling started all over again.
Where to see Kribkes in the region
In the Hart van Limburg region, you’ll find nativity scenes everywhere. In many villages and towns, building the crib is still a true community project. You’ll find them in churches or beautifully displayed outside. Often, you can simply walk in during church opening hours to take a look. And some are placed outside, visible from the street. It’s a lovely outing, step inside, feel the peace and enjoy all the beautiful details.
Curious where to find them? Just check the website.
