Plans to demolish the railway line and bridge in 1993 were abandoned after widespread protests from local residents.

In November 2014, the disused bridge's 55-metre-long (180 ft) lift span was temporarily removed to permit renovation.

[2] 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.

[3] 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.

[4] 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.