"Venice of the North" Bruges Struggles as Tourists Steal Cobblestones

Cityscape Formed in the Middle Ages... UNESCO World Heritage Site
"50 to 70 Cobblestones Stolen from Roads Each Month"

The city of Bruges in Belgium, known as the "Venice of the North," is facing difficulties as tourists frequently remove and steal cobblestones from its roads.

According to a report by CNN on the 24th (local time), the historic city of Bruges in Belgium is suffering from overtourism and its associated side effects. In particular, there has been a sharp increase in cases of tourists stealing cobblestones as souvenirs, which is damaging the city's cultural heritage and threatening pedestrian safety. The old town of Bruges, whose cityscape was formed during the European Middle Ages and whose buildings are well-preserved, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000.

A cobblestone-paved back alley in the 'De Gare' district of Bruges. Official website of Bruges Tourism Office, Belgium

Franky Demon, a member of the Belgian Federal Parliament and Bruges City Council, told CNN that between 50 and 70 cobblestones are destroyed and stolen from the city's roads each month, with the phenomenon especially pronounced during peak tourist seasons such as spring and summer. The main areas affected by the disappearance of cobblestones include Minnewater, Vismarkt, Markt, and the Gruuthuse Museum.

This theft of cobblestones goes beyond simple souvenir collecting and constitutes an act that damages the city's centuries-old historic landscape. The gaps left by the missing cobblestones also pose tripping hazards for pedestrians, increasing the risk of safety accidents. Demon, who oversees Bruges' public facilities management, explained, "When the cobblestone paving is damaged, there is a risk that residents and tourists may trip and get injured. It costs 200 euros (about 310,000 won) per square meter to repair."

He added, "Among those who did this, there were cases where people planted vegetation in the empty spaces left after digging up the cobblestones. While it may be a creative act, it shows a lack of respect for the heritage we share." He continued, "All we are asking for is respect for the history and culture of our city. Walking through the streets of Bruges is like walking on centuries of accumulated history. These cobblestones are not just stones; they are part of the soul of our city. We hope visitors will leave them in place and not damage their beauty."

CNN reported that, like Venice in Italy and Barcelona in Spain, Bruges is suffering from the side effects of overtourism. In order to control the influx of short-term tourists, Bruges has, since 2019, reduced the number of cruise ships allowed to dock at the nearby port of Zeebrugge and has suspended Bruges tourism advertisements in places such as Paris.

Meanwhile, across Europe, indiscriminate souvenir collecting by tourists has become a problem, such as taking sand from the pink beaches of Sardinia in Italy or stealing cobblestones from the ancient Sampietrini roads in Rome.