The city authorities in Bruges (West Flanders) have noticed that an increasing number of cobblestones are being stolen from the historic centre of the city. Alderman Franky Demon (Christian democrat) suspects that the cobblestones are being stolen by tourists that are taking them home with them as souvenirsq. Mr Demon is urging visitors to the West Flemish city to leave the cobblestone where they are.
The stealing of cobblestones is a growing issue in the Unesco-listed centre of Bruges that attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the world every year.
Mr Demon told the press agency Belga that “At iconic site such as the Minnewater, the Vismarkt, the Markt and the Gruuthusemuseum, an estimated 50 to 70 cobblestones disappear every month and the true that figure may be even still”.
Alderman Demon went on to say that the number of cobblestones stolen increased significant during busy tourist periods such as spring and summer.
Public safety
In addition to the cost and effort involved in replacing the cobblestones, their theft creates safety issues. “People can trip over. It is regrettable that our staff are constantly having to go out to repair gaps made when stones are stolen and fix stones that have come loose. This entails a lot of extra work and cost”, Mr Demon said.
The Alderman stresses the importance of respecting the city's heritage. “We are simply asking for respect. Anyone that walks through Bruges is walking through centuries of history. Leave the cobblestones where they belong.”