No more horse-drawn carriages: Brussels unveils first electric carriage for sightseeing

Brussels has claimed to have become the first European city to introduce an electric carriage for tourist tours, replacing the horse-drawn ones that were previously popular but raised concerns about animal welfare and the cleanliness of city streets.

Tourists can now enjoy a scenic tour of the historic centre in modern style and comfort.

Thibault Danthine, the operator of Brussel’s horse-drawn tourist carriage service, retired his fleet in 2022 due to both staff shortages and criticism about using horses for commercial gain.

Danthine’s love for the profession and "the pleasure of discovering a city in this type of vehicle" gave him the idea of launching the electric carriage, and the city of Brussels accepted the proposal.

“In the search for sustainable alternatives, Danthine's proposal intrigued us,” commerce alderman Fabian Maingain said. “It’s something new, but with respect for heritage.”

Although electric carriages have been around for some time, this is the first time one has been used for tourist purposes.

The city hopes to attract 15,000 tourists a year with the reintroduction of the carriage tours, which cost €70 per group.

Tourists can choose from several routes starting in the Grand-Place, generally taking them past sites such as Mont des Arts, Sainte-Catherine, Saint-Géry, the Bourse, the old city ramparts and Manneken Pis.

Since the carriage service no longer uses horses, they will be able to explore more places and streets in the city centre.

The first carriage was unveiled on Thursday and a second will operate during the busier summer months. The city ordered three carriages in total to comprise the fleet.