BELGIUM attracts millions yearly tourists who want to experience its medieval towns and architecture from the Renaissance era.
Located in Western Europe, the country is also popular among beer connoisseurs, who enjoy visiting its many local bars. However, several years ago, some publicans noticed their beer glasses were missing. Not content with just drinking the beer, some guests had taken to collecting the glasses as souvenirs.
Beer glasses in Belgium are expensive and come in many shapes and sizes, from goblets and chalices to flutes and tulips. Claims soon emerged that a bar had begun enforcing a rule requiring patrons to surrender their shoes as collateral to ensure they return the glasses.
Is this true?
Verdict:
TRUE.
In Ghent, a port city in Northwest Belgium, the bar Dulle Griet collected their guests' shoes in a basket before they were allowed into the premises.
Its owner, Alex De Vriendt, told a news portal that so far, no customers have tried visiting the bar without shoes.
"We actually accept all kinds of shoes, but we realise that a flip-flop is not as valuable as the beer glass," he was quoted as saying.
In the city of Bruges, the Bruges Beerwall cafe had security alarms attached to the glasses as part of their security measures.
References:
1. https://www.dullegriet.be/nl/
3. https://www.vice.com/en/
