Published 3 days ago • loading... • Updated 2 days ago

European City Asks Tourists to Stop Stealing Cobblestones From Its Historic Streets

Bruges, a picturesque city in Belgium with UNESCO-recognized medieval streets, has asked tourists to stop stealing cobblestones from its historic streets.
Tourist theft of cobblestones, estimated at 50 to 70 pieces monthly and increasing during peak season, has raised concerns about safety and repair costs.
Replacing damaged cobblestones costs approximately 200 euros per square meter, and local politician Franky Demon warned that the thefts pose serious risks to residents and visitors.
Demon told CNN that one thief even replaced a missing cobblestone with a planted flower, and he said, "The consequences are serious," although some view the theft as harmless.
Bruges has been struggling with overtourism, leading to 2019 measures reducing cruise ship numbers at Zeebrugge and ending local tourism promotions to discourage day-trippers, reflecting a broader European challenge.

Insights by Ground AI

Does this summary seem wrong?

15 Articles

All

Left

Center

Right

www.t-online.de

Lean Left

Bruges Fights Souvenir Hunters: Stony Theft in Medieval Alleys

The Belgian city of Bruges is struggling with a quirky problem: more and more paving stones are disappearing. Tourists are suspected of disappearing.

2 days ago

Read Full Article

Jyllands-Posten

Lean Right

"We Just Ask for Respect": European City Issues Warning to Tourists Who Steal Special Souvenirs

The Belgian city of Bruges is issuing a call to its tourists: Stop stealing cobblestones from its old medieval streets. CNN reports. According to local politician Franky Demon, it is estimated that...

3 days ago·Aarhus, Denmark

Read Full Article

politika.rs

Lean Right

Bruges Asks Tourists to Stop Stealing Cobblestones From Medieval Streets

The Belgian city of Bruges has appealed to tourists to stop stealing cobblestones from its medieval streets, which are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

3 days ago·Belgrade, Serbia

Read Full Article

CNN

+8 Reposted by 8 other sources

Lean Left

Bruges asks tourists to stop stealing cobblestones

This week in travel news: makeup videos at 30,000 feet, the “little Marrakech” none of your friends have been to, and a historic European city is losing its footing.

3 days ago·Atlanta, United States

Read Full Article

Stirile Antena 1 Observator

The European City that Asks Tourists to Stop Stealing the Cobblestones From Its Historic Streets

As summer sets in and the holiday season begins, Europe is grappling with another side of mass tourism. In Bruges, a Belgian city known for its medieval charm and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, authorities are sounding the alarm: tourists are stealing cobblestones from the streets, CNN reports.

3 days ago·Romania

Read Full Article

Stirile Pro TV

A Tourist City in Europe Asks Tourists Not to Steal the Streets Any More: "I'm Part of the Soul"

The picturesque town Bruges in Belgium has launched an appeal to tourists: no longer steal cubic stones from its medieval streets, recognised by UNESCO.

3 days ago·Bucharest, Romania

Read Full Article

Think freely.Subscribe and get full access to Ground NewsSubscriptions start at $9.99/year