‘The Fault In Our Stars’ Bench Has Disappeared!
“The Fault in Our Stars” bench has disappeared!
Yes, THE bench, the romantic bench that Hazel and Gus sat on in The Fault in Our Stars, to look longingly into each others eyes has vanished.
Located in Amsterdam, on the Leidsegracht, one of the Dutch capital’s many canals, the bench was an iconic part of the hit drama, The Fault in Our Stars.
So, where did it go?
For now, officials are stymied over whether the iconic green bench was stolen or misplaced.
The Monterey Herald reports that Stephen van der Hoeck, the Amsterdam city spokesman, said of the bench’s disappearance on Tuesday:
“It’s a bit embarrassing. Because we do keep good track of them. But it’s gone all right.”
He went on to say that the missing bench from The Fault in Our Stars will be replaced within a few weeks, depending on whether or not the city’s works department has one in stock. Van der Hoeck said that the missing bench was noticed after fans of The Fault in Our Stars started asking about it when maps to the popular film’s locations started circulating.
It almost seemed inevitable that a fake Twitter account for the missing The Fault in Our Stars bench would appear almost immediately:
I’ve been stolen
— Bench (@BenchTFIOS) July 1, 2014
I have no idea why or how I was stolen but I guess I’m wanted because I was in a movie
— Bench (@BenchTFIOS) July 1, 2014
Update: I’m still missing
— Bench (@BenchTFIOS) July 3, 2014
Unfortunately, for all those star-crossed lovers hoping to travel to Amsterdam in hopes of sitting on the bench to re-enact Gus and Hazel’s romantic moments from The Fault in Our Stars, the genuine bench is gone – though the city seems intent on replacing it.
Another location from the film, Amsterdam’s Anne Frank House museum, is a popular location for fans of The Fault in Our Stars. According to the museum’s spokeswoman, Annemarie Bekkar, “We do get visitors asking about the film.” Contrary to The Fault in Our Stars fan impressions, however, visitors to the museum are not allowed to go up to the attic and sneak a kiss like the characters in The Fault in Our Stars.
City officials suppose the bench from The Fault in Our Stars was most likely stolen. Movie props are often targets for fans searching for a souvenir or someone eager to make a quick buck by selling props to rabid fans. Currently, a flower pot sits in the spot where the bench from The Fault in Our Stars was located, and city officials believe the pot was purchased collectively by local residents.
As to the possible whereabouts of the actual bench used in The Fault in Our Stars? City official Stephen van der Hoeck said, “Keep your eyes on eBay.”
