Elmer van Buuren

Elmer van Buuren, the co-founder and managing director of European Sleeper, brings over 15 years of seasoned expertise to the travel and railway sectors, dedicating a decade to operations and project management. He started his career in the travel industry before moving to the rail sector working in consultancy. For two decades, Elmer harbored the ambition to helm his own railway company, a dream he saw as increasingly viable with the resurgence of interest in sleeper trains. Motivated by this opportunity, he, alongside his co-founder, embarked on a practical learning journey. They quickly realized that, despite a regulatory framework, securing success was far from guaranteed. Elmer is a staunch advocate for a shift towards a new economic model that prioritizes purpose over growth, viewing it as, essential, for addressing global challenges such as climate change and inequality. “Running more night trains across Europe is a dream that we bring to life with and for our community. That is