Historic Rotterdam Bridge to be dismantled to let billionaire Bezos’s $485 mn Superyacht pass through

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A historic bridge in Rotterdam will be temporarily dismantled to enable a $485 million superyacht built for US billionaire Jeff Bezos to pass through, according to Dutch media reports.</p>
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The bridge, which is to be pulled apart, is called The Koningshavenbrug dates back to 1878 and was rebuilt after being damaged by German bombing during World War II.</p>
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Known to locals as De Hef, it was renovated in 2017 and the council promised at the time they wouldn’t dismantle it again.</p>
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Local broadcaster Rijnmond said on Wednesday that this pledge is set to be broken to let through Bezos’ yacht, which is still under construction.</p>
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The decision has sparked a wave of anger in the Netherlands as the local council promised after a major renovation in 2017 that it would never again dismantle the bridge, according to an AFP report.</p>
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The mayor's office insisted on the economic benefits and jobs created by the construction of the boat at a Dutch shipyard, but promised that the bridge would be restored to its present shape.</p>
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"It's the only route to the sea," a spokesman for the mayor of Rotterdam told AFP, adding that billionaire Bezos would foot the bill for the operation.</p>
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The middle section of the huge steel-girdered bridge will be removed to give enough clearance for the 40-metre (130-foot) high boat, Dutch media reported.</p>
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The process will take a few weeks and is expected to happen this summer.</p>
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Bezos, 57, is the founder of US tech giant Amazon and one of the world's richest men.</p>