BRUGES URGES TOURISTS TO STOP STEALING ITS COBBLESTONES
Belgium is known for its beautiful towns, delicious chocolates and Unesco-recognised medieval streets.
The city of Bruges is filled with these famous streets featuring cobblestones. Now, local politician Franky Demon has asked tourists to refrain from stealing these cobblestones.
“While some may see this as harmless or quirky, the consequences are serious, Demon told CNN.
“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.”
Demon said it’s estimated that 50 to 70 cobblestones are stolen each month, even more so during peak tourist season.
It costs the town around R4,000 per square meter to replace the cobblestones and fix the damage.
Over the last decade, many European cities have been struggling to cope with overtourism.
CNN reports that in 2019, the city voted to reduce the number of cruise ships that would be allowed to dock in the nearby port of Zeebrugge.
The city also stopped promoting Brugge as a holiday destination in cities like Paris, with the hope that day-trippers would be discouraged from visiting.
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