Researchers from the University of La Laguna in Tenerife have published startling new evidence that love locks work.
The custom of placing padlocks on fences, railings and other public fittings has become widespread throughout Europe in recent years, and Lanzarote is no exception, with large clusters of padlocks visible in the island’s resorts. The locks are usually placed by couples who believe they symbolise their unbreakable love.
To test the theory, researchers from the University of La Laguna tracked the developments in the lives of 200 couples who placed love locks in various Canarian resorts five years ago. 100 of the lovelocks were left in place, while another 100 were removed at later dates, usually the 1st of April.
They found that the relationships of over 70% of couples whose love locks remained in place remained strong and healthy. For example, Caroline and Daniel Rowe, who put a love lock up in Playa Blanca in 2021 with DAN & CAZ 4EVA written on it, are now happily married and expecting twins in the summer. “Our love has only become stronger ever since we did the love lock,” said Caroline.
However, the story of those whose lovelocks were removed is a sad tale of break-ups and bitter acrimony. Dutch tourists Erik Jansson and Linda de Vries fastened their love lock during their honeymoon and, at first, enjoyed a happy and fulfilling marriage. However, shortly after researchers removed the love lock in April 2023, Linda discovered that Erik had been sending nude selfies to a work colleague and terminated their relationship.
“I was willing to take part in the experiment with that cheating b****d”, said Linda, “But now I’m glad they took the lock away.”
The researchers found that 67% of couples who had later had their love lock removed were no longer together. “Also, of those still in relationships, almost 20% said they now “hated each other’s guts” said project leader Miguel Cabrera.
The findings add a fascinating new dimension to an issue which has caused plenty of controversy over recent years, with some council workers worrying that their job removing the locks may be causing untold misery.
As usual at this time of year, we asked the opinion of Primero de Abril, the Cabildo Councillor in charge of Symbolic Fastening Devices in Tourist Zones. “We will now have to rethink our policy on love locks entirely,” he told us. “The responsibility for the joy and romance of hundreds of our tourists is entirely in our hands.”
The councillor then excused himself, saying “I’m off to look for the love lock that my daughter and her deadbeat boyfriend attached to a railing in Puerto del Carmen last year. Do you have a set of bolt cutters I could borrow?”
