Love Locks of Amsterdam. Love or Burden?

Lovelocks are padlocks, whether or not inscribed with a text or the names of lovers, which are attached to a bridge as a sign of eternal love. The origin of this ritual is unclear, but has become all the rage since the publication of the novel Ho voglia di te by Fredirico Moccia (2006) and the film adaptation in 2007. In the novel we see two lovers performing this ritual at the Ponte Milvio in Rome. In addition to Rome and Paris, this ritual now takes place worldwide and Amsterdam is also popular. Meanwhile, a complete economy has emerged to facilitate demand. The locks are offered at hefty prices on the internet and in shops near popular bridges. There is a choice of professional engravings, colors, prints and specially made heart-shaped locks. The growth of love locks on bridges does not remain without consequences for the mostly historical monuments. Aesthetically and technically, this is now considered undesirable and municipal authorities are therefore taking measures. In 2011, Rome removed all locks from the Ponte Milvio. An Amsterdam private individual started to remove all locks from the Staalmeestersbrug on his own initiative in 2013. In 2014, a gate of the Pont des Arts in Paris collapsed under the weight of the tens of thousands of locks and in 2015 the municipality of Amsterdam decided to remove all locks from the 60 historic bridges in the city center. It turns out to be an endless fight. New locks are put up every day. Tips are given online about useful bridges and daily posts are posted on Instagram under #lovelocks (over 222,000 hits). It should be clear from the above that the LoveLock object is a clear exponent of the increased mass tourism. For years there has been an increasing discussion in Amsterdam about the excesses and the impact this has on the quality of life, especially in the city center. The locks now determine the image of many bridges and are a lasting memory, not only of the love between two people, but also of the takeover of the city by the many tourists. By riveting padlocks to the bridges of the city, they leave a lasting mark on an iconic part of the city.