--- title: "Jeff Bezos Demands That Historic Bridge Be Taken Apart So That His Superyacht Can Pass Through" description: "An iconic bridge in the Dutch city of Rotterdam will soon be partly demolished so that Amazon founder Jeff Bezos' super yacht can pass through." date: "2022-02-02" modified: "2022-02-02" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/jeff-bezos-bridge-superyacht" categories: - "Future Society" - "Jeff Bezos" - "The Industrialists" tags: - "Amazon" - "jeff bezos" - "the digest" --- # Jeff Bezos Demands That Historic Bridge Be Taken Apart So That His Superyacht Can Pass Through ![An iconic bridge in the Dutch city of Rotterdam will soon be partly demolished so that Amazon founder Jeff Bezos' super yacht can pass through.]() *\Image: Getty Images\* ## Wealth Bridgilege An iconic bridge in the Dutch city of Rotterdam will soon be partly demolished so that Amazon founder Jeff Bezos' superyacht can pass through, according to [local news broadcaster *Rijnmond*]() — an obscene display of wealth and privilege by the [one of the richest people]() in the world. The historic bridge, called the Koningshavenbrug, was originally constructed over the river in 1927 and was heavily damaged during World War II. These days, it's much beloved by locals and seen as an integral part of the seaport city's history. While it stopped serving as a way for trains to cross in 1993, a 2014 plan to demolish the iconic bridge was met with much resistance from residents, according to *Rijnmond*. ## Passing Through Bezos has ordered himself a massive, three-mast yacht, which is being built at a local shipyard called Oceano. But there's one big problem: it will be way too large to safely pass under the bridge, even when the bridge's central section is extended to its maximum height of 131 feet. "The only alternative is to take out the middle part," project lead Marcel Walravens, who helped renovating the bridge between 2014 and 2017, told *Rijnmond*. "It's the only route to the sea," spokesman for the mayor of Rotterdam [told *Agence France-Presse*](). The mayor insists Bezos' order will boost the local economy and create jobs. At least, the billionaire and the shipyard have agreed to foot the bill of temporarily dismantling the bridge. Oceano has built several superyachts [for other US billionaires]() including Jerry Jones, owner of the Dallas Cowboys. His vessel, the Bravo Eugenia, is [over 350 feet long]() and only the fourth largest the shipyard has built. It can house 14 guests and a crew of 30, including the captain. It will take a few weeks to dismantle the iconic bridge — just so Bezos gets to spend a holiday at sea. **READ MORE:** [Rotterdam to dismantle historic bridge for Bezos superyacht]() \[*AFP*\] **More on Bezos:** *[Jeff Bezos Startup Hires Top Scientist to Defeat Death]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()