Thibault Danthine, the man behind the innovative electric carriages in Brussels, is now also launching sustainable, electric tourist carriage rides in Antwerp. According to the Gazet van Antwerpen, Danthine is starting with two carriages in Antwerp, and, as in the capital, they will be stationed on the Grand Place.

For the welfare of the horses and the need for sustainability, Danthine decided in 2022 to replace the horse-drawn carriages with electric models – the first 100% electric carriages for tourism in Europe. The Brussels entrepreneur, who is also director of the Waterloo Memorial, is now expanding his animal-friendly concept to Antwerp.

Replicas of 19th-century carriages

The vehicles Danthine uses are not modern golf carts, but replicas of 19th-century carriages, such as the Victoria or Mylord models, which are fully electric. To this end, Danthine launched his own brand, Anderson, named after the Scottish inventor of the electric carriage, Robert Anderson, with vehicles assembled in Poland.

The carriages, with a range of 120 km, will visit Antwerp’s famous tourist spots, such as the Grand Place, the Cathedral of Our Lady, and the medieval fortress Het Steen, with a focus on a peaceful, nostalgic experience. A ride lasts about 30 minutes, at a speed of 6 to 8 km/h.

New trend

A growing number of cities around the world have banned or heavily restricted horse-drawn carriage rides, mostly due to animal welfare, traffic safety, and modernization concerns.

Montreal, for example, as well as Barcelona, London, Paris, Prague, Rome, Beijing, Mumbai, Guadalajara, Chicago, Key West, and Palm Beach in Florida. New York, where the horse-drawn carriage industry has existed for more than 150 years, has resisted.