Cobblestones are increasingly being stolen from the historic centre of Bruges. Councillor Franky Demon suspects tourists have been taking the stones as souvenirs and has urged people to leave the stones where they are.
The problem is growing in well-known spots across the Unesco-protected city centre. “At iconic locations such as the Minnewater, the Vismarkt, the Markt and the Gruuthusemuseum, an estimated 50 to 70 cobblestones disappear per month. And that figure may be even higher,” said Demon. “The phenomenon increases significantly, especially during busy tourist periods such as spring and summer.”
Safety concerns
Beyond the loss of heritage, the thefts are creating safety issues. “People can trip over this. It is regrettable that our employees constantly have to go out to repair holes and loose stones. This causes a lot of extra work and costs: around 200 euros per square meter of reconstruction,” Demon said.
He highlights the importance of respecting the city’s historical environment. “We simply ask for respect. Anyone who walks through Bruges steps over centuries of history. Leave those cobblestones where they belong.”
Similar incidents happen atother sites, such as along the Paris-Roubaix cycling route, where tourists are also known to pocket cobblestones.
