Requests have been made to dismantle the historic Koningshaven Bridge in the Dutch city of Rotterdam, so that a superyacht owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos may sail to the sea. While the shipbuilder has requested that the bridge, known locally as De Hef, only be temporarily dismantled over the summer, no permit has been sought or granted, according to a spokesman for Mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb.
The yacht's masts are too high for it to leave Rotterdam otherwise, according to the authorities. Except for De Hef, the ship will pass through every other bridge on its way easily since it can be opened. Before accepting the permission, the city stated it will evaluate the preservation of the bridge's structure, as well as the impact that will have on the environment and local economy, including employment in the shipbuilding sector. According to the city's statement, the shipbuilder would bear the whole cost of the demolition if it was allowed.
According to Dutch media, the central portion of the massive steel-girder bridge will be demolished to make room for the 40-metre-tall mast. The procedure is planned to take a few weeks and is expected to happen this summer.
The decision to allow the boat to pass has enraged historians, the Dutch public, and some municipal officials. Locals in Rotterdam have taken to Facebook to organise a protest called 'Throwing eggs at Jeff Bezos superyacht.' As of now, around 1,500 individuals have registered for the event, with a total of 5,700 persons interested with the date set as June 1. The people feel resentful considering the value that the monument holds in history.
De Hef was constructed in 1878 and subsequently restored after being damaged by the Nazis during World War II in the 1940s. In 1993, there were intentions to remove the bridge, but the proposal was scrapped due to opposition from locals. The bridge is now a national monument in the Netherlands. The trap, which is in the middle of the bridge, was temporarily removed in 2014 for extensive restoration. The municipality of Rotterdam funded the renovation, which lasted until early 2017 and had then committed not to demolish the structure again following a large-scale repair.
Oceanco is the company that is building Bezos' 417-foot sailing boat, code-named Y721 and expected to cost around $500 million. The yacht is being built at Alblasserdam, a South Holland town. It is said to be a three-masted yacht built out of aluminium and steel. When delivered in 2022, Bezos' yacht will be the world's biggest sailing superyacht.
The city is in a tough spot now since the ship has no other way to reach the ocean. There are a few people who support the decision to dismantle the monument temporarily stating that this process will open new employment opportunities for the people. The mayor’s office has also guaranteed the citizens that the bridge will be rebuilt the same way as it is now.
