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Daily Mirror
30-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
European city pleads for 'respect' as tourists keep stealing forbidden item
Tourists travelling to Belgium are literally picking apart centuries of history in the fairytale-esque city, where authorities have now pleaded with visitors to show some 'respect' Most travellers leave a European city break with a fridge magnet or maybe a cute vintage scarf, but it turns out some people are taking much more damaging keepsakes - bits of the actual street. That's what's happening in Bruges, the fairy-tale-like city in Belgium that's also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Officials are now begging tourists to stop stealing the city's historic cobblestones, which date back to the Middle Ages. Bruges, which attracts over 8 million visitors every year, is best known for its chocolate shops, charming canals, and old-world vibes. But behind the picture-perfect views, locals say the city is literally being picked apart by overbearing tourists who want to take a piece of it home. Franky Demon, a city councillor, says Bruges is losing between 50 and 70 cobblestones every month. And while it might seem harmless to lift a loose one from the ground, replacing them costs €200 (£168) per square metre - a price that's quickly adding up. 'We ask for nothing but respect,' he told The Brussels Times. 'Walking in Bruges means treading on centuries of history. Please leave these stones where they belong.' It's not just the cost - the theft is damaging some of the city's most iconic areas, including the Grand Place, Vismarkt, the Gruuthuse Museum and the Lake of Love known as Minnewater - a romantic beauty spot that's sadly seeing more empty patches than ever. While heritage plays a huge part in the city's charm, it's also a safety issue. With so many of Bruges' visitors exploring the town on foot, gaps left by missing stones are becoming trip hazards, turning scenic strolls into risky ones. Over on Reddit, both tourists and locals have been weighing in with suggestions to fix the problem. Some have called for fines and tougher penalties, while others say replicas should be sold in gift shops to stop people from taking the real deal. CCTV has also been suggested, but for many users, it's baffling as to why anyone would want to steal a cobblestone in the first place. One local shared: 'I once caught a tourist digging a stone out of the street. I told them horses have been s***ting on it for decades. They didn't listen and took it anyway.' The cobble chaos is just one example of overtourism hitting major European destinations. Bruges has already slashed cruise ship arrivals to limit footfall. Meanwhile, Venice has doubled its tourist tax and Palma has capped tour group sizes.
Metro
29-05-2025
- Metro
European city begs for ‘respect' as tourists keep stealing bizarre souvenir
A historic Belgian city has requested that tourists stop stealing cobblestones from its famous centre. While most of us might bring home a fridge magnet, or a chic vintage buy, from a European trip, some are taking pieces of the pavement. Bruges is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for its charming canals and blend of Gothic, Romanesque, Renaissance, Neo-Classicist, and Baroque architecture. The iconic cobbles date back to the Middle Ages. Every year, over 8 million international tourists descend on the capital of West Flanders to marvel at these wonders in real life. However, such popularity has led to the destruction of Bruges, which ironically, is also famed for being one of the most preserved medieval cities in Europe. According to the city councillor, Franky Demon, Bruges is losing between 50 and 70 cobblestones every month, due to tourists taking a piece of history home with them. While sneaky travellers might not think it's a big deal, he revealed that repair costs actually add up to €200 (£168) per square metre of stones. Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here. Demon told the The Brussels Times: 'We ask for nothing but respect. Walking in Bruges means treading on centuries of history. Please leave these stones where they belong.' The councillor then highlighted the places experiencing the most damage, including the iconic areas of Minnewater, Vismarkt, the Grand Place and the Gruuthuse Museum. He explained that while these thefts occur each month, the severity increases during spring and summer, when Bruges welcomes the majority of its visitors. Additionally, Demon said pinching the stones is a threat to people's safety, too. As Bruges is a compact and walkable city, renowned for being pedestrian-friendly, the gaps left by the missing stones pose trip hazards. Over on Reddit, people have been suggesting ways to deter people from taking cobblestones as souvenirs, from announcing fines rather than 'politely asking people not to steal', or selling replicas at tourist shops. More Trending Others suggested putting up cameras, while also questioning why people would want to steal stones in the first place. Many agreed, asking what's wrong with traditional keepsakes, like magnets. However, one Bruges resident revealed that this has been going on for some time now and will likely continue. They joked: 'I once caught a tourist digging a stone out of the street. I told them horses have been sh***ing on it for decades. They didn't listen and took it anyway.' Another Bruges resident said that measures aren't strict enough, which is why this issue keeps happening. Bruges is just one of the many European cities grappling with the effects of overtourism right now. The city has implemented various measures to reduce footfall over the years, including the most recent: limiting cruise ship arrivals from five to two per day in 2019. Earlier this year, Venice doubled its controversial tourist tax for last-minute travellers who book less than four days in advance. The €5 (£4.20) fee increased to €10 (£8.30). In Barcelona, a large public square outside one of its most famous attractions is being created in an effort to ease overwhelming crowds of tourists. As for Palma, Mallorca's capital, tours have been limited to 20 people per group, while cruise ship visitors to Santorini and Mykonos will be charged a daily fee of €20 (£16.80). Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: The 'Venice of Eastern Europe' is a 'youthful' city with £29 flights — and 800 gnomes MORE: New train to span 745 miles linking five European countries — and tickets are just £40 MORE: EasyJet launches new holidays to 'charming' but underrated Italian seaside destination
