Bruges is taking action to ensure none of the cobblestones on its streets are loose. Every month, up to 70 cobblestones disappear from the city centre. Tourists take them home with them as souvenirs. If the cobblestones are properly attached, they are less likely to be stolen, and it is also safer for cyclists and pedestrians Bruges city fathers argue.
Despite an earlier appeal to tourists to let them be, cobblestones are still being stolen. Alderman Franky Demon: "Every month, up to 70 cobblestones disappear. If they are loose, it is of course easy to put them in your pocket without this being noticed. That's why we are going to resurface the cobblestones in a number of streets so that they are securely fixed. Besides, it is also safer for cyclists and pedestrians when no cobblestones are loose."
"The cobblestones are first being dug up, then washed and reattached. This will be the case in the Steenstraat shopping street and several other streets. In that street more cobblestones are loose because buses and cars are still allowed there. In total, we are now allocating just over 320,000 euros for this project."
Earlier appeal made little impact
In May, the Bruges city authorities appealed to tourists to leave the stones be, but all to little avail. Bruges city centre is a protected UNESCO world heritage site. “We notice that the stones are mainly being stolen outside tourist attractions, so we suspect that tourists in particular are taking them.’