21. Mai 2025, 10:57 Uhr | Lesezeit: 3 Minuten
Holiday souvenirs can be beautiful memories of a successful stay. More and more visitors to the Belgian city of Bruges seem to be considering cobblestones from iconic locations in the famous old town. This leads to some serious problems, as Bruges' city council is now making public. Find out more at Sunnytrips.
Most people's luggage is well filled with important personal items and clothing. It's actually astonishing that so many holidaymakers can still fit stones in them. The not a little strange trend has been emerging for some time. Sunnytrips reported on the pretty pebbles at Lalaria Beach on the Greek island of Skiathos, which are so sought after by visitors that they are dramatically depleting on the beach itself. The problem can also be observed on the beach of Valledoria in Sardinia, among other places. And now paving stones are apparently being stolen in Bruges too.
More and more paving stones were stolen from Bruges
Bruges, known for its beautiful medieval architecture and cobbled streets, has been affected by overtourism for years. Sunnytrips reported in 2023 about unpleasant conditions on site due to crowds. In 2024, Bruges received 27,000 tourists per day, according to a report in the daily newspaper The Brussels Times. The city has already taken various measures to maintain the balance between tourism and the quality of life of residents. These include a ban on building new hotels in the historic center and restrictions on cruise ships being allowed to dock in the nearby port of Zeebrugge. The theft of paving stones is a significant problem for which the authorities were certainly not prepared.
According to Franky Demon, councilor for public property in Bruges, between 50 and 70 cobblestones disappear every month from the historic old town of the UNESCO World Heritage city. “The number could be even higher,” Euronews quoted him as saying. The city assumes that tourists will take the stones home as souvenirs. A decline in the number of stones can be observed, especially in prominent places such as around the famous fish market and at the Gruuthusemuseum, especially during the peak tourist season in spring and summer.
Touristen klauten fast den halben Strand
Skiathos – island paradise with more than 60 beaches
Bruges appeals for respect from tourists
One would think that the following would be self-evident. But in light of events, Demon feels compelled to reiterate on behalf of the city that preserving its historic infrastructure is crucial to Bruges' authenticity and charm. In addition, the missing stones in the ground are increasingly posing a safety risk. “It is unfortunate that our employees constantly have to go out to repair potholes and loose stones,” explains Franky Demon. Especially since this work also has its price: the renovation costs around 200 euros per square meter.
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On behalf of the city, councilor Demon appeals for the respect of visitors who, after all, are passing through centuries of history in Bruges. “Leave the cobblestones where they belong,” he warns.
If you don't want to listen, you may have to pay
It would be better to follow the call. In most countries, taking stones - be they cobblestones from the old town or pebbles from the beach - is considered theft of public property. Anyone caught doing this on the aforementioned island of Skiathos will face a fine of between 400 and 1000 euros. In Belgium, too, it is a crime that can be punished with fines, criminal charges or even convictions.
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