More than 1,000 Dutch residents plan to throw rotten eggs at Jeff Bezos' superyacht if it ends up forcing a historic bridge be dismantled for it to pass through
REUTERS/Joshua Roberts
- Jeff Bezos' new megayacht is being built and needs to pass through Rotterdam once completed.
- It's so big that the historic Koningshaven Bridge may need to be dismantled for it to sail through.
- In response, Rotterdam locals are planning to throw rotten eggs at Bezos' yacht when it passes.
Jeff Bezos' new megayacht is being built in the Netherlands, where it may require a historic bridge be dismantled so it can sail through.
Some Dutch residents definitely won't be egging him on but will instead be chucking eggs at his yacht when it passes.
Rotterdam locals have taken to Facebook to plan an event called "Throwing eggs at Jeff Bezos' superyacht" in protest.
"Calling all Rotterdammers, take a box of rotten eggs with you and let's throw them en masse at Jeff's superyacht when it sails through the Hef in Rotterdam," the event description reads. "Rotterdam was built from the rubble by the people of Rotterdam, and we don't just take that apart for the phallic symbol of a megalomaniac billionaire. Not without a fight!"
As of this writing, roughly 1,200 people have marked themselves going to the event, and 4,900 people are interested in it. The event is slated for June 1.
Bezos' megayacht is predicted to cost $500 million and is under construction now in Alblasserdam, Netherlands, by shipbuilding company Oceanco. Once completed, the 417-foot vessel will need to pass through Rotterdam to reach the ocean and ultimately, Bezos.
The problem, though, is that the megayacht's three masts are too tall to pass under the 131-foot clearance of Rotterdam's Koningshaven Bridge. Known locally as De Hef, the bridge is nearly 100 years old and is thought of as something of a landmark in the city. After the bridge was renovated in 2017, the city vowed it wouldn't be taken apart again, according to Dutch broadcaster Rijnmond.
Rotterdam's mayor, Ahmed Aboutaleb, said Thursday that no decision has been made yet on dismantling the bridge to accommodate the superyacht. If it does end up happening, Bezos or Oceanco may have to foot the bill, he added.