DutchNews.nl - DutchNews.nl brings daily news from The Netherlands in English

6 June 2025
Newsletter Donate Advertise
  • News
  • Life in the Netherlands
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
  • Search
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Art and culture
  • Sport
  • Europe
  • Society
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Housing
  • Education
  • News
    • Home
    • Economy
    • Art and culture
    • Sport
    • Europe
    • Society
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
    • Education
  • Life in the Netherlands
    • Latest
    • Opinion
    • Books
    • Travel
    • 10 Questions
    • Learning Dutch
    • Inburgering with DN
    • Food & Drink
    • Ask us anything
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
    • Team
    • Donate
    • Advertise
    • Writing for Dutch News
    • Contact us
    • Privacy
    • Newsletter
  • Search

Bezos boat bridge row: no permit has been requested says mayor

February 4, 2022
The central section of the bridge will be removed if the plan goes ahead. Photo: Robin Utrecht ANP/HH
The central section of the bridge will be removed if the plan goes ahead. Photo: Robin Utrecht ANP/HH

The row over partly dismantling a landmark bridge in Rotterdam to allow Jeff Bezos’ super yacht to access the sea took a new twist on Thursday, when Rotterdam mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb said no request had yet been made.

Speaking in Colombia, where he is in talks about the international drugs trade, Aboutaleb told the AD that no request had been made to remove part of the bridge temporarily and no decision had therefore yet been taken.

The mayor’s comments are noteworthy because city officials have said that the council had decided to vote in favour of the request from the maritime sector, without naming either shipyard or boat owner.

Aboutaleb said that if the request is made, all the interests will be taken into account. That he said, included ‘the economic, particularly our region’s maritime reputation, and the technical: can it be done without damage?’.

The costs would of course have to be paid by the boat’s buyer, he said. ‘I understand that it is election time, but let us wait until we have taken a decision.’

The Netherlands will vote for new local councils in March and the Rotterdam branch of political party GroenLinks has already called an emergency council debate on the issue.

Peter Leenheer, owner of Rotterdam firm Bonn & Mees, which dismantled the bridge for renovation in 2014 told local broadcaster Rijnmond that taking out the central section would not be ‘super exciting’.

‘In principle it can be done in a day,’ he said.

Share this article
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Copy URL
Economy Politics
Thank you for donating to DutchNews.nl.

We could not provide the Dutch News service, and keep it free of charge, without the generous support of our readers. Your donations allow us to report on issues you tell us matter, and provide you with a summary of the most important Dutch news each day.

Make a donation
Latest
Show more
Yesilgöz under fire for "indecisiveness" about far-right PVV
Two-thirds of councils yet to take their fair share of refugees
Cool, changeable weather for June holiday weekend
Crisis? What crisis? Why do we have to wait five months to vote?
Dutch economy set to grow 1.1% this year, trade tensions a risk
NewsHomeEconomyArt and cultureSportEuropeSocietyEnvironmentHealthHousingEducation
Life in the NetherlandsLatestOpinionBooksTravel10 QuestionsLearning DutchInburgering with DNFood & DrinkAsk us anything
About usTeamDonateAdvertiseWriting for Dutch NewsContact usPrivacyNewsletter
© 2025 DutchNews | Cookie settings

Help us to keep providing you information about coronavirus in the Netherlands.

Many thanks to everyone who has donated to DutchNews.nl in recent days!

We could not provide this service without you. If you have not yet made a contribution, you can do so here.

The DutchNews.nl team

Donate now

Dutchnews Survey

Please help us making DutchNews.nl a better read by taking part in a short survey.

Take part now