Authorities in Bruges are reporting a significant rise in the theft of… cobblestone from the city’s UNESCO-listed historic centre; dozens of the ancient stones are disappearing daily, prompting officials to urge tourists to stop pocketing pieces of its centuries-old infrastructure.
According to Alderman Franks Demon (CD&V), responsible for the city’s public works, roads and green spaces, about 50 to 70 cobblestones vanish every day from the protected city centre. ‘The true figure may even be higher,’ he told the Belgian news agency Belga.
Thefts increase significantly during the busy tourist seasons of spring and summer, with iconic sites such as Minnewater, the Vismarkt, the Markt and the Gruuthusemuseum suffering the brunt of the damage.
🚨 Tourists urged to stop stealing Bruges cobblestones!
— Thomas MORE (@ThomaMore) May 16, 2025
➔ Removing these stones damages the city's heritage
➔ The thefts pose safety risks for residents and visitors
Help preserve Bruges by leaving cobblestones in place. #Bruges #Tourism #Heritage #Belgium pic.twitter.com/w6EJLQuaXk
Beyond the aesthetic harm, Demon highlighted the safety hazards for people ‘who can trip over’, and the financial burden on the city. ‘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 costs around €200 per square metre,’ he explained.
All Demon is asking for, he said, is a little respect. ‘Anyone that walks through Bruges is walking through centuries of history. Leave the cobblestones where they belong,’ he added, emphasising the historical value of the site.
Bruges is not alone facing this peculiar form of street-level plundering. In France, the famous Paris-Roubaix cycling route is also regularly targeted by souvenir hunters. Further south, Rome’s sampietrini – cobblestones made of solidified lava – have also become prized, illegal, and ultimately very expensive souvenir for tourists, who face heavy fines if caught.
The phenomenon extends beyond Europe. Hawaiian lava rocks are also targeted by tourists, though they seem to benefit from an extra layer of protection: many stolen stones have reportedly been returned, with tourists citing sudden misfortune attributed to Pele’s curse, a Native Hawaiian legend that warns of bad luck or tragedy to whomever disrespects her land.
As for Bruges, while the cobblestones may lack divine guardianship, they too are volcanic in origin. Known as ‘Belgian blocks’, they are made of porphyry quarried in Wallonia, famous for their exceptional hardness and durability. For now, only the city’s heritage depends on its public figures… and tourist self-restraint?
