Graffiti was becoming a substantial problem in the city centre of Bruges. Tags and pieces of graffiti marked the streets, creating a degenerate impression and severely damaging many historical buildings. The city of Bruges set out a positive graffiti policy that recognised graffiti as an art form as well as a form of vandalism. The policy worked on various aspects of graffiti and took an integrated approach, implementing a strategy that is both preventative and repressive.

Money was invested in a graffiti bus, which was fully equipped with professional cleaners, jet washers and various cleaning products. Using stone powder and a special spraying and rinsing technique – graffiti was removed from vulnerable walls without damage. The Municipal Prevention Department developed a graffiti recording system. Graffiti was removed free of charge to prevent victims being targeted twice, and virtually all victims agree to the removal of the graffiti.
To recognise that graffiti can be an art and in exchange for certain commitment - specific areas were put at the disposal of “graffiti masters”. Workshops were set up for beginners and the graffiti artists were expected to observe the principles of The Graffiti Charter.

This project resulted in graffiti offences decreasing from 555 in 1997, to 177 in 2000. Due to the removal of graffiti in specific areas at a time, by the year 2001 most of the graffiti had been removed. This meant that new offences could be removed more rapidly – most within 48 hours. Due to this rapid removal, erosion vandalism is prevented and the removal acts as a deterrent for fresh offences. Over 20 graffiti projects have been successful.