Bruges (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Bruges will enforce stricter tour guide rules from March 1, 2026. Groups limited to 20 people, bans in narrow streets, aiming to reduce nuisance in the city centre. Alderman Minou Esquenet leads changes.
As VRT News reported, Bruges will introduce stricter rules for tour guides starting on March 1, 2025. The city has had a code of conduct for guides since 2018. Officials say the current rules are not enough to manage large groups.
Alderman for Tourism, Minou Esquenet (CD&V) said some guided tours can have up to 70 participants. This causes congestion and can create conflicts in busy areas. The new rules will limit each guide to a maximum of 20 people.
“Sometimes there are up to 70 people in a group,”
Says Alderman for Tourism Minou Esquenet (CD&V).
“This causes inconvenience that could potentially lead to conflicts. We want to prevent this by allowing a maximum of 20 participants per guide. We want to ease the crowds in the city centre somewhat, so that large groups of people no longer stand still in different places for long periods of time.”
What new rules will Bruges enforce to cut city centre nuisance?
The updated code also changes the rules on audio equipment. Previously, guides with 25 or more people had to use an audio system with earphones. That requirement has been removed. Sound amplification remains forbidden. Guides can now choose whether to use an audio system or speak without one. The city says the change will give guides more flexibility while keeping noise levels low.
Guides will not be allowed to stop in busy or narrow streets and on bridges with limited capacity. The ban applies to Stoofstraat, Wijngaardstraat, Wijngaardbrug, Walstraat, Blinde Ezelstraat, Breidelstraat and the Bonifaciusbrug.
City officials state that large groups standing still in these places block movement and increase pressure on already crowded areas. Alderman for Tourism, Minou Esquenet (CD&V) said that explanations can instead be given at larger spaces such as the Burg or the Vismarkt.
The new code of conduct will also affect the number of guides working in Bruges. The city presently has over 3,500 registered guides from 63 nations. With groups restricted to fewer members, officials anticipate that there will be more guides needed, particularly during peak tourist periods.
“It’s becoming more difficult to continue offering all guided tours in the various languages,”
Says Jos Teughels.
“I hope that the measures will encourage local guides to make more of an effort to also offer guided tours in other languages, so we can respond to those large tour operators.”
The updated rules have been approved by the Board of Aldermen and still require approval from the municipal council. The city intends to enforce the new measures from March 1, 2026. Authorities say the rules are designed to manage tourism more effectively and to safeguard the accessibility of Bruges’ historic centre.
Bruges introduced its first code of conduct for guides in 2018 to address complaints about solicitation, noise, and disrespectful behaviour in the historic city centre. The updated version, which includes the group size limit and restrictions on stopping in narrow streets, was approved by the board of aldermen in 2024 under the leadership of Alderman for Tourism Minou Esquenet (CD&V). The municipal council still has to give its final approval before the rules take effect on March 1, 2026.
