Mark Dominus1d ago
In 1996, tired of squabbling between EU countries about whose favorite person or building should be on the EU banknotes, the currency commission held a competition for a new design: “The ground rules for the design strictly prohibited displaying any recognizable national monuments or heroes that risked giving greater prominence to one country over another.” The winning design was a series of bridges that were stylistically typical of different kinds of European bridges, but which weren't any specific bridges. For example:
Show threadMark Dominus1d ago

Then in 2011 those trolls the Dutch built seven bridges in one town that were all designed to look exactly like the imaginary banknote bridges. They even painted the bridges the same colors as the banknotes.

So now the EU banknotes depict the bridges of Spijkenisse, South Holland. (pop. 72,500)

Show threadTor Lillqvist9h ago

@mjd Seems to me, at least based on that picture, that they didn't actually build new bridges, but built Potemkin-style rather plasticky-looking façades in front of existing much more boring bridges?

Or at least, even if the bridges might be new, the banknote-inspired look doesn't match the actual construction and structure of the bridges. The one in the picture is not actually multiple load-bearing arches made out of masonry.

Fake and sad.

Yes, I am fun at parties.

Show threadMark Dominus5h ago

@tml I believe you're exactly right about the way they were (not) constructed. I read that they are not even painted to match the notes, they are made of dyed concrete.

But I disagree that it's sad—to me that's part of the joke. Similar to the way they didn't construct grand bridges spanning gorges or mighty rivers, they just used the designs for little footbridges over canals. It's funny!

Show threadTor Lillqvist
@mjd If one has the right ironic attitude, then yes, it is indeed an amusing joke. But I fear many of the tourists who come and see these just think "wow, they built these gorgeous old-fashioned bridges, why can't we do the same at home".
9:45amWeb
Show threadMark Dominus5h ago

@tml I did find the fake suspension cables of the cable-stayed bridge rather disturbing.

I was similarly offended by this fake suspension bridge in Taiwan.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Taroko-Gorge_Hualien_Taiwan_Pudu-Bridge-at-Taroko-National-Park-01.jpg

File:Taroko-Gorge Hualien Taiwan Pudu-Bridge-at-Taroko-National-Park-01.jpg - Wikimedia Commons

Show threadMark Koek5h ago
@tml @mjd I can assure you that no tourists visit Spijkenisse. It’s a suburb of Rotterdam that you do not go to if you don’t have to. Which may be part of the joke, who knows. 🙂
Show threadTor Lillqvist4h ago
@mkoek @mjd Now you convinced me that I *must* visit if I ever find myself in the vicinity...
Show threadMark Koek4h ago
@tml @mjd Take metro line D from the central station all the way to the end of the line. Good luck. 🫡 (not that bad really, just a bland suburb 🙂)
Show threadYlönën1h ago
@mkoek @tml @mjd I'll definitely be suggesting this to my missus on our next trip to the Netherlands.