In Rotterdam, it’s impossible to miss De Hef (officially Koningshaven Bridge), a one-of-a-kind railway bridge. Once used to connect Breda to Rotterdam by train, this lift bridge still impresses today, even though it has been out of service since 1993.
Galerie photos
Tulumnes, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A bridge that literally lifted
Built to allow ships to pass through the Koningshaven, its central section could be raised entirely – a spectacle in itself. Today, trains run through the Willemsspoortunnel, but De Hef still stands proudly between Noordereiland and Feijenoord.
A monument steeped in history
Designated a national monument since 2000, it was renovated in 2017. The city council even pledged never to dismantle it… until an unexpected guest arrived: Jeff Bezos’ superyacht, which was supposed to pass through on its way to the sea. The result: public outrage, heated debate… and the project was abandoned.