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Koningshaven Bridge in Rotterdam
Photo: via www.imago-images.de / imago images/ANP
A historic bridge in Rotterdam almost had to be dismantled – at least for a while.
The problem: the middle section of the bridge can be raised to around 40 meters, which is the maximum height ships are allowed to pass through.
However, it is too low for the passage of a mega yacht, which according to media reports is being built by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.
However, the almost 100-year-old bridge will not be dismantled after all.
The shipbuilder Oceanco has informed the authorities that after violent reactions and threats, it will not apply for partial dismantling of the Koningshavenbrug, a spokesman for the Dutch port city told the dpa news agency, thereby confirming corresponding media reports.
The three-master is currently being built at a shipyard near Rotterdam and is estimated to cost around 430 million euros.
Bridge should be restored after passage
The sailing yacht should be completed this summer and towed out to sea.
The movable center section of the bridge, colloquially known as »De Hef«, was to be dismantled and restored after the bridge had been crossed.
The plan had caused outrage among the people of Rotterdam.
There were calls on social media to throw rotten eggs at the ship.
The company Oceanco, which specializes in building luxury ships, initially did not respond to inquiries.
It is unclear how - and how far completed - the ship should now reach the open sea.
The former railway bridge over the Meuse is a listed building.
It is a so-called lifting bridge, since the middle section can be lifted upwards to let ships through.
No trains have crossed the bridge since 1993.
jpz/ani/dpa
