The Fault in Our Stars bench missing in Amsterdam

A worn green bench positioned along Amsterdam's charming Leidsegracht canal has gone missing, potentially a victim of the wild success of young adult bestseller-turned-movie hit The Fault in Our Stars.

The humble wooden bench, which looks like hundreds of others stationed around the city, rose to fame recently in promotional images for the movie starring Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort.

The movie is based on the philosophical and melancholy tale by John Green about a young pair who meet in a cancer group and fall in love. The film version, shot in 2013, features the couple travelling to Amsterdam. At one point, the duo sit on a green bench in the Dutch city, talk and kiss.

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Fans of The Fault in Our Stars visiting Amsterdam have been contacting city officials to ask where scenes were shot and noted the bench was missing.

"It's a bit embarrassing, because we do keep good track of them, but it's gone all right," city spokesman Stephan van der Hoek said Tuesday.

The bench's disappearance went unnoticed for at least a month because someone (perhaps area residents) had placed a large flower pot in its place, he said, adding that a replacement should be installed within weeks, depending on available stock.

It's unknown how the bench disappeared, whether it was removed by city officials for repair, by nearby neighbours unhappy with an increased flood of tourist traffic or perhaps fans eager to own a piece of movie memorabilia.

"Keep your eyes on eBay," van der Hoek noted.