Bruges is one of Belgium’s most-visited, most picturesque cities and it’s listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site—but lately, it’s also become the scene of an ongoing highway robbery.
According to city officials, visitors are stealing the city’s iconic cobblestone streets, one stone at a time, creating safety hazards and steep repair costs. A city councilor told the Brussels Times that around 50 to 70 of the stones are pulled up by visitors every month.
In a further statement to CNN, Councilor Franky Demon “While some may see this as harmless or quirky, the consequences are serious. The removal of cobblestones poses a clear safety risk to both residents and visitors. Missing or loosened stones create tripping hazards, and city workers must frequently be dispatched to carry out repairs.” He estimated the repair costs at about €200 per square metre.
