What happens when a baby is born in Ghent, Belgium?
By Forinfos - 11/08/2025 - 0 comments
The birth of a child is an exciting time for parents, siblings, grandparents and, in the Belgian city of Ghent, the town’s entire population. Whenever a baby is born in Ghent, the streetlights in the Sint-Veerleplein city square flicker on and off to mark the occasion.
As part of an art installation titled “Ai Nati Oggi†(or “For Those Born Todayâ€), artist Alberto Garutti partnered with the Ghent City Council to connect the square’s streetlights to the local maternity hospitals. When a newborn arrives, the parents can press a button in the hospital, which subtly announces to the world via flickering light that they’ve welcomed a new addition to their family.
The flash and subsequent dimming of the light is subtle enough to cause a double take. Visitors to the city can consult a small plaque in the square that explains the installation to those who might imagine that they’re seeing things.

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