Onze filosofie

Our story was preceded by great journeys: rowing across the Atlantic Ocean in 109 days, sailing around the world twice and working as a safety advisor for a Dutch television programme in the Philippines.

But the most important lessons came from the people along the way. From their help, hospitality and willingness to take responsibility for one another when things got hard.

That took on a very personal meaning when a ruptured appendix on a Philippine island became life-threatening. During a typhoon alarm, it took two days to reach a hospital on another island. Without the determination and help of a loved one, this story would not exist. She saved a life, and with it everything that could grow from it.

Such an experience stays with you. It shows how much we owe to one another. However big a dream may be, it is the people who carry you that make the difference.

Starting a shipping company without a start-up budget was a big step. Family made that step possible with win-win loans. With support through PMV initiatives and the financial backing and trust of several people, Antwerp by Boat got the chance to grow.

That support went far beyond money. There were friends who made time, shared knowledge, helped solve problems and kept looking for a way out whenever things stalled. Often that happened behind the scenes, without our guests ever noticing.

A special word of thanks goes to the comrade who designed MoekePapoe. Thanks to his knowledge, creativity, patience and dedication, an ambition took shape as a ship, built especially for Antwerp.

And then there are our loyal skippers. People we can always count on, even when someone unexpectedly drops out or plans change at the last moment. They take over, welcome our guests and make sure the cruises continue safely and with care.

Every cruise carries something of all that help.

From the very start we chose open sloops. That is how we most like to experience the city harbour: with the sky above you, the water close by and a free view of the quays, bridges and buildings.

An open boat makes you part of the life around the water. You wave at people on the bridges, exchange a smile or a few words and feel the city's contact. Those spontaneous encounters, with no roof between you and the people above you, belong to sailing through Antwerp for us.

You experience the architecture differently too. Your gaze follows the MAS from the water all the way to the top. You look up at the Havenhuis and see how the buildings stand out against the sky. Without a roof over your head you take in the iconic buildings in their entirety, with no canopy limiting your view.

That is why we consciously choose open sailing. We want to give our guests that complete experience: the water, the buildings and the people who give the city its character.

Our converted lifeboat from the RFA Sir Tristram was given a new life in this. Her mothership, a British naval vessel, was bombed during the Falklands War. With this sloop we introduced the first 100% electric cruises in Antwerp's city harbour. Today she brings people together on the water.

Thanks to the people who helped design, finance and build, MoekePapoe then came into being: Antwerp's first city tour boat with a capacity of more than 12 passengers. With room for up to 50 passengers, she made it possible for larger parties to experience the city harbour together.

Thanks to her custom design, MoekePapoe can pass under the low London Bridge. Here too everything comes together: a ship that fits the city, a free view and the people on the bridge who briefly become part of the cruise.

Our entire fleet runs 100% electric. That creates calm on board: space to hear one another, to hold a conversation and to take in the city around you.

These words sum up what we have learned along the way. You cannot choose every circumstance. But you can keep looking together for what is possible.

That is what the people around Antwerp by Boat have done again and again. Whenever something went wrong, there was someone who thought along, stepped in or said: we will find a way.

On board, we sometimes take that thought quite literally.

On a sunny day, the water sparkles. Under a grey sky, the harbour takes on a different atmosphere. And when it rains, we bring out the umbrellas.

We dance in the rain.

We sail as long as it is safe. The safety of our guests and crew always determines whether a cruise can go ahead.

We also understand that not everyone wants to drink their aperitif under an umbrella. That is why you can check the weather forecast yourself and decide: until 24 hours before departure you can cancel free of charge, with a full refund of the cruise.

That way we take on the risk of an unfavourable forecast, as long as you cancel in time.

Because others did so much for this project, we want to give something back.

That is why every year we make room to sail for free for projects close to our hearts. To give people a lovely day, support initiatives and share the water with those who can less easily enjoy it.

The willingness of others to help made Antwerp by Boat possible. That same willingness is what we want to carry forward.

Behind the boats you see stand very many people you may never meet. People who helped finance, design, build, restore, organise and sail. People who kept believing and helping, even when that was anything but easy.

It is thanks to them that we can welcome you on board today.

Dream big. Help each other. And learn to dance in the rain.