De Hef
{{Short description|Bridge in Rotterdam, Netherlands}}
{{more citations needed|date=February 2022}}
{{Expand Dutch|De Hef|date=February 2022}}
{{Infobox bridge
|image=De Hef.jpg
|architect=Pieter Joosting
| length = {{Convert|79|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| width = {{Convert|11|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| crosses = Koningshaven
| opening = 1927
| coordinates = {{coord|51.9134|4.4989|display=inline,title}}
}}
De Hef ({{lit|the lift}}), officially Koningshaven Bridge, is a vertical-lift bridge over the Koningshaven (Kings Harbor) channel at the port of Rotterdam, Netherlands. Built in 1927, the bridge was part of the Breda–Rotterdam railway line until it was decommissioned in 1993. Today, it is a Rijksmonument heritage site.
History
The predecessor bridge dated from 1878. Its configuration as a swing bridge proved an obstacle to shipping (the most notable incident occurring in 1918, when the bridge was struck by the German vessel Kandelfels), and it was replaced by a lift bridge in 1927. It was the first bridge of this kind in western Europe.
The bridge was the subject of a 1928 film by Joris Ivens, titled De brug.
Redevelopment
Plans to demolish the railway line and bridge in 1993 were abandoned after widespread protests from local residents. The line was removed but the bridge was left in place as a Rijksmonument national heritage monument.
In November 2014, the disused bridge's {{convert|55|m|ft|adj=mid|-long}} lift span was temporarily removed to permit renovation. It was transported to the Merwehaven port, where it was refurbished in 2016, the work funded by the city of Rotterdam.{{cite magazine|title=Koningshavenbrug|date=December 2014|magazine=Op de Rails|lang=nl|page=580581|issn=0030-3321}} It was reinstalled in February 2017.{{cite news |author= |title=Historische Rotterdamse spoorbrug De Hef weer compleet |url=https://nos.nl/artikel/2156919-historische-rotterdamse-spoorbrug-de-hef-weer-compleet |access-date=2022-02-05 |publisher=Nederlandse Omroep Stichting |date=February 7, 2017 |language=nl |trans-title=Historic Rotterdam railway bridge De Hef is complete again |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220206002629/https://nos.nl/artikel/2156919-historische-rotterdamse-spoorbrug-de-hef-weer-compleet |archive-date=February 6, 2022 |url-status=live}}
In February 2022, Rotterdam announced that the middle section of the bridge would be temporarily removed again, to allow Jeff Bezos's Y721 superyacht to pass through.{{Cite news|date=February 3, 2022|title=Rotterdam has confirmed it will dismantle a historic bridge to allow a superyacht built for Amazon founder Jeff Bezos to fit through.|page=1|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-60241145|access-date=February 3, 2022}} In response to criticism of this decision, Rotterdam mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb stated in February of that year that no permit had yet been applied for.[https://www.rtlnieuws.nl/nieuws/nederland/artikel/5285742/ahmed-aboutaleb-besluit-demonteren-rotterdamse-brug-jeff-bezos-de Burgemeester Ahmed Aboutaleb van Rotterdam zegt dat de Rotterdamse Koningshavenbrug, beter bekend als De Hef, voorlopig niet wordt gedemonteerd om het luxejacht van miljardair Jeff Bezos door te laten. "Er is nog geen enkel besluit, zelfs nog geen vergunningsaanvraag."] Later reports indicated that plans to temporarily dismantle De Hef have been shelved, leaving it unclear if Y721 will be finished as is, and how it will sail down the river if it remains of the same dimensions.{{cite news |last=Moses |first=Claire |date=July 7, 2022 |title=Rotterdam Won't Dismantle Bridge to Allow Jeff Bezos' Superyacht Through |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/07/world/europe/bezos-yacht-rotterdam-bridge.html |work=The New York Times |location= |access-date=July 7, 2022}}
Gallery
File:Nieuwe Koninginnebrug.jpg|Postcard with the newly opened Nieuwe Koninginnebrug in the foreground, and De Hef behind it.
File:Sporen Hef.jpg|The old tracks on De Hef seen from the Noordereiland
File:Rotterdam hef sept 2003.jpg|De Hef with the Koninginnebrug behind it.
File:Rotterdam drie bruggen.jpg|View from Maasboulevard, with De Hef on the far left.
File:Koninginnebrug en De Hef.jpg|Aerial view of the Koninginnebrug and De Hef.
File:Rotterdam, zuidelijk deel van de Hef RM513922 foto7 2015-08-01 16.05.jpg|The southern tower of De Hef in 2015, when the lift span was temporarily removed during bridge renovation
File:De Hef below.jpg|Underside of the bridge
File:De Hef Controlekamer.jpg|The bridge control room
References
{{reflist}}
{{Rijksmonument|513922}}
Category:Rijksmonuments in Rotterdam
Category:Railway bridges in the Netherlands