Who would’ve thought a simple piece of rock could create so much chaos? But over in Bruges, the fairytale-like city in Belgium with its medieval architecture and intricate canals, tourists have taken to literally stealing pieces of history—by removing their paving stones. Yes, cobblestones.
To say Bruges councilman Franky Demo is upset is an understatement. He has taken it upon himself to maintain the balance of power, pleading to tourists not to take the rounded stones used in paving the historic roads of Bruges. “You’re walking on centuries of history,” he stated while trying to contain his frustration. “Just leave the stones alone.” Isn’t that a reasonable request?
The problem is that those stones are precious to the city’s identity. They were painstakingly set down over centuries when Bruges served as an epicenter for trade in Europe. The cobblestones are not mere aesthetic features, but actual artifacts and part of what is Bruges, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
How serious is this issue, really? Local authorities report that around 50 to70 cobblestones vanish without a trace every month from hotspots like Vismarkt, Minnewater and even circa the Grand Palace and Grutthuse Museum. Doesn’t sound like much? Well, each stone creates a new pedestrian hazard and adds to the expense of servicing the roads. It is reported that around €200—or approximately 3.7 million rupiah—for every missing square meter of the pavement maintenance. Not exactly a change one would effortlessly find in the pocket.
Bruges is not the only city suffering from these inconveniences. In Sardinia, Italy, there have been attempts to electronically monitor and control the smuggling of beach sand in their suitcases. The monetary penalty? Up to €3000. Cities like Kyoto, Prague, and Amsterdam have been starting to tighten their restrictions. These include prohibiting public alcohol consumption in some areas, controlling anti-social behavior, and in some historic blocks, mandatory dress codes were introduced.
But what about Bruges – what do people get from these stones? Perhaps it is charm. Maybe its that romantic ‘piece of Europe’ notion. But irrespective of the reason, it remains an awful souvenir. Not only are tourists damaging fragile infrastructures, but they are also removing pieces of the city’s identity. This is like stealing bricks from the Great Wall for the sake of displaying it on a shelf.
In all truth, if you are that keen on getting a piece of Bruges, a fridge magnet would do just fine.
