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A historic bridge in Rotterdam was set to be dismantled to make way for Jeff Bezos’ 500 million-strong yacht with huge masts. After much protest, the shipyard is now backing down.
A historic bridge in the port of the Dutch metropolis of Rotterdam is not being dismantled following all. The original plan was to dismantle the 95-year-old Koningshavenbrug, colloquially known as “De Hef”, to make room for a superyacht under construction by Amazon founder and multi-billionaire Jeff Bezos.
The sailing ship with the working name Y721, which costs 500 million francs, will be equipped with masts almost 70 meters high. Although “De Hef” is a lifting bridge, the Bezos cutter would still not be able to drive through it. The shipyard therefore planned to remove the middle section of the bridge and put it back on following it had passed.
Residents planned attack
After this plan became known in February, there was massive protest among the population of Rotterdam. The idea of sacrificing a listed bridge to the status symbol of a multi-billionaire repelled the people of Rotterdam. “Resistance groups” formed on Facebook, which planned, among other things, to bombard the yacht with eggs as it passed.
The rejection of the population also caused politicians to react. After the city administration had previously signaled that the demolition action had already been approved, the mayor of Rotterdam let it be known following the protests that no application had been received from the shipyard.
Keystone
Shipyard backs down
There will probably no longer be any reason for an egg battle. Shipbuilder Oceanco has informed the city that it is no longer aiming to dismantle “De Hef”. sea “Trouw” fears the company vandalism, and the employees have also been threatened.
It is unclear how Y721, which was supposed to be completed this summer, will continue. Oceanco did not provide any information on this, but the yacht will probably now be transferred without masts to another shipyard with direct access to the sea and completed there.