Iconic Bridge To Be Dismantled To Let Jeff Bezos' Yacht Pass Through

An iconic bridge in the Netherlands will be dismantled for a day to let Amazon founder Jeff Bezos' new superyacht pass through.

Koningshavenbrug, known as De Hef, in Rotterdam, is set to be dismantled to allow the 417-foot Y721 to pass through when it is completed later this year, according to Dutch broadcaster Rijnmond.

The now-decommissioned lift bridge is considered to be one of Rotterdam's landmarks and is listed on several travel websites as a sightseeing destination.

Bezos' yacht is currently being built at the Oceano shipyard in nearby Alblasserdam but will need to leave via the Koningshavenbrug to make it out to sea.

The bridge will need to be dismantled as the superyacht would be unable to fit under it, even while at its full clearance of 130 feet.

According to Rijnmond, both Bezos and Oceano approached the local council about the temporary dismantling and their request had been accepted. The broadcaster said the cost of dismantling the bridge will be paid for by Bezos, who Forbes says has an estimated fortune of about $178 billion as of this month.

Local groups have voiced their concerns about the move, with Ton Wesselink of the local history society, Historisch Genootschap Roterodamum, saying there should be limits on what is done to the city's heritage.

Speaking to Rijnmond, Wesselink said: "Jobs are important, but there are limits with what you can and should do with our industrial heritage."

Following a restoration project in 2017, the broadcaster reported Rotterdam council vowed the bridge would never be dismantled again.

Marcel Walravens, who helped manage the bridge's restoration, said that it would not be practical to partly complete the vessel then finish the project somewhere else.

He told Rijnmond: "If you carry out a big job somewhere, you want all your tools in that place. Otherwise, you have to go back and forth constantly. In addition, this is such a large project that there are hardly any locations where this work could be finished.

"From an economic perspective and maintaining employment, the municipality considers this a very important project. Rotterdam has also been declared the maritime capital of Europe. Shipbuilding and activity within that sector are therefore an important pillar for the municipality."

Newsweek has contacted Amazon and Oceano for comment.

Bezos' wealth exploded during the pandemic, with his net worth increasing from $113 billion in 2020 to $177 billion the following year, according to Forbes.

The billionaire has used his money to blast into space, bringing along a select group for the Blue Origin rocket launch in July 2021.

But Bezos' use of his wealth has come under fire from some, including Prince William of United Kingdom who appeared to take aim at the billionaire's recent venture into space.

Speaking in October 2021, Prince William told the BBC: "We need some of the world's greatest brains and minds fixed on trying to repair this planet, not trying to find the next place to go live.

"I think that, ultimately, is what sold it for me—that really is quite crucial to be focusing on this [planet] rather than giving up and heading out into space to try and think of solutions in the future."