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Reviews this week that the Dutch metropolis had already agreed to take aside the just lately renovated Koningshaven Bridge, recognized domestically as De Hef, sparked anger. On Fb, locals are proposing to pelt the yacht with rotten eggs when it passes by means of.
Nevertheless, a spokeswoman for Mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb instructed The Related Press on Friday that whereas a shipbuilder has requested briefly taking aside the bridge this summer time, no allow has but been sought or granted.
Many Rotterdam residents are nonetheless involved.
“I feel it is simple to know why it is so controversial as a result of it is a very stunning, just lately restored outdated bridge,” mentioned Lizette Touber. “It truly is our heritage. And I feel that if the wealthy pays for it to be opened, which usually no one else may do, then you definately get controversy.”
In a written assertion, Aboutaleb, who’s on a go to to Colombia, mentioned that after a request for a allow is submitted it will likely be assessed primarily based on elements together with financial affect, environmental nuisance and potential dangers to the “monumental construction” of the bridge.
“When the allow has been utilized for, the municipality can decide about this, particulars might be additional elaborated and a plan might be made within the occasion of a constructive resolution,” the assertion mentioned.
(View of a yacht, reportedly being constructed for Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, on the wharf in Zwijndrecht, close to Rotterdam.)
The municipality declined to touch upon who owns the yacht in query or establish the shipbuilder. An e-mail despatched to Amazon searching for remark went unanswered. A report by Bloomberg in Might 2021 mentioned the yacht was being constructed for Bezos by Oceanco at a value of “upwards of $500 million.”
The present Hef railway bridge was opened for trains to cross the Maas River in 1927 and brought out of service in 1993 when it was changed by a tunnel. Public protests spared it from demolition and it will definitely underwent a three-year renovation that led to 2017. The center part of the bridge might be raised to permit ships to cross beneath, however apparently not excessive sufficient for the brand new yacht’s masts.
Ton Wesselink, chairman of a Rotterdam historic society, feared {that a} resolution to permit one yacht by means of the bridge may set a precedent for others.
“The factor we do not need is that this yacht challenge will open the likelihood for shipbuilders to make use of it the identical manner,” he mentioned in an e-mail to AP.
However there have been voices of assist for the proposal.
“I feel it is effective. Let Bezos pay a excessive worth. It creates work. I solely see upsides,” mentioned Rotterdam resident Ria van den Vousten.
“Whether it is paid for and everyone makes some cash, do not complain. Do not speak, however act, as we are saying in Rotterdam,” she added.
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