Guided tour groups will be limited to 20 tourists, and larger groups will need additional guides, in order to reduce crowding in the city's most popular areas.

Tourists will also be prohibited from stopping for breaks or photos during guided tours, especially in narrow streets and on heavily visited bridges, to maintain flow and lessen congestion.

Despite Bruges being Belgium’s top tourist destination with around eight million visitors annually, local residents and officials remain concerned about the impacts of over-tourism.

Starting in March 2026, Bruges will introduce new restrictions on guided tours to combat over-tourism and address resident concerns.

These new regulations aim to create a more enjoyable environment for both residents and visitors, with officials emphasizing that compliance will improve the overall tourist experience.

Bruges' new restrictions are similar to measures in Venice and Barcelona, which have implemented tourist taxes of €5 and €4 per day and are considering extending these taxes to short-term boat and bus visitors from January 2027.

The previous rule requiring tourists in groups of over 25 to use headphones will be abolished once the new 20-person group limit is in place, streamlining guided tour regulations.