A historic bridge in Rotterdam, the Netherlands will be partially dismantled so that it can be passed by Jeff Bezos' super luxury yacht. The cruise ship was too high and the bridge that was crossed could not accommodate it so it had to be dismantled.
The bridge, named Koningshaven, was erected in Rotterdam in 1878 and rebuilt after experiencing significant damage during World War II.
The bridge has also been renovated several times, most recently in 2017. The renovation was supposed to be the last time the Koningshaven bridge was demolished, but the local government seems to have made an exception for the Amazon founder.
The yacht ordered by Bezos was built by the company Oceanco at a shipyard located in the city of Ablasterdam near Rotterdam. Once completed, the 127-meter long cruise ship will become the largest sailing ship in the world.
Oceanco itself asked the city government of Rotterdam to dismantle the Koningshaven bridge because its highest clearance of 40 meters was not enough to pass the three giant masts of Bezos' cruise ship. Oceanco and Bezos will bear the costs of this demolition.
The City of Rotterdam said the construction of this cruise ship would bring economic benefits and create new jobs. But local residents criticized the decision,
"Jobs are important, but there are limits to what you can do for our heritage," said Tom Wesselink, a member of the Rotterdam Historical Society.
Rumors about Jeff Bezos' yacht were revealed thanks to the book 'Amazon Unbound' written by Brad Stone. In the book, Stone says Bezos ordered a super yacht for $485 million.
In addition to the main 127-meter yacht, Bezos has also ordered a smaller yacht that will be equipped with a helicopter pad