Oceanco, the company commissioned to build Bezos’ $500 million ship, has abandoned plans to temporarily remove Rotterdam’s Koningshavenbrug, known locally as ‘De Hef’, according to Dutch news website Trouw. It’s unclear what Oceanco plans to do now that it has given up the option of pursuing the bridge’s removal. The article, which reported local residents’ reaction to the face, was translated by the website DutchNews.nl. The website obtained documents through the country’s freedom of information laws that showed Oceanco was so taken aback by public reaction to the original plan that it decided not to go ahead with it. The company had said the bridge needed to be dismantled to allow the superyacht to sail in the North Sea. The landmark bridge, known locally as “De Hef”, was restored after the bombing of Rotterdam in World War II. The bridge became a national monument.NurPhoto via Getty Images Rotterdam residents were so vocal about the plan that they organized Facebook groups to organize protests. Some even threatened to throw rotten eggs at Bezos’ superyacht, said to be among the largest vessels in the world. The 150-year-old steel structure, which spans 130 feet and spans the Meuse River, was renovated in 2017 after being bombed during World War II. The bridge has been landmarked and turned into a national monument. Rotterdam noted that city officials pledged not to dismantle the bridge after its most recent renovations five years ago. Bezos hoped the bridge would be dismantled to allow the ship to sail into the North Sea. Anadolu Agency via Getty Images The city of Rotterdam reportedly objected to the release of the information Trouw received because of threats he is said to have received from opponents of the plan. Bezos’ Y721 superyacht will be one of the largest yachts ever built in the Netherlands, which is a boat-building hub for the super-rich, according to Bloomberg.
