Dine on Milanese risotto, fall asleep, and wake up to a breakfast of Stroopwafels and Poffertjes (a typical Amsterdam sweet breakfast). This is what the young Belgian-Dutch night train cooperative European Sleeper promises, with plans to open the Milan-Amsterdam route in June 2026. The journey will last all night: the perfect time to rest and wake up ready to explore the city.
The route will be operated by European Sleeper, already known for bringing back the charm of night travel between major European capitals. The goal is to offer a quality alternative to air travel. It offers solutions ranging from economical couchettes to more comfortable private cabins, ensuring a relaxing and sustainable travel experience.
European Sleeper is already successfully operating the Brussels-Berlin-Prague route and will now also open Milan and Amsterdam.
From Milan Central Station to the canals of Amsterdam: all the stops on the new “night train”
Photo: Unsplash / Najib Samatar
The night train embraces the philosophy of ‘slow travel’: a journey without the stress and hustle and bustle typical of airports. European Sleeper promises a peaceful journey that is accessible to all, but above all relaxing and, importantly, sustainable: choosing this route means emitting up to 28 times less CO2 than a flight on the same route.
European Sleeper’s Milan–Amsterdam route is not just a journey from one point to another: it is a European axis that crosses capitals (including Brussels) and strategic cities, transforming the journey into part of the experience. The train, traveling up through Italy and across Switzerland, will pass through Belgium. But let’s take a closer look at the stops:
- Italy: Milan, Stresa, and Domodossola.
- Switzerland: Bern, Brig.
- Germany: Cologne.
- Belgium: Brussels
- Terminal: Amsterdam
How the “Good Night Train” works: timetables, berths, and onboard services
Photo:
https://www.europeansleeper.eu/the-train
At the moment, important information about timetables and prices is being updated. The website states: the first journey from Brussels and Amsterdam is scheduled for Thursday, June 18, 2026.
The journey will take 15 hours. Departures from Amsterdam and Brussels will operate on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, while return journeys from Milan are scheduled for Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. Tickets will go on sale between January and February 2026; further details on timetables and routes will be announced shortly.
Accommodation options are available:
- 1- and 3-person sleeping cars.
- If you are a group of friends or a family, you can choose compartments for 4-6 people.
- If you are more adventurous, there are classic seats. This is clearly a more economical solution but more tiring, as the train departs at around 8 p.m. (the standard departure time for night trains) and arrives the next morning.
- Breakfast can be added to your reservation for an additional fee.
- Drinks and snacks can be purchased from the on-board staff.
Extra services: The train allows you to travel with bicycles (great for Amsterdam) and pets, which are allowed in private cabins.
Would you choose the charm of the night train or do you still prefer the plane?