Continental Coaches Group was born from a simple idea: three family coach companies, spanning Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands, could serve Europe better together than apart. In 2012, that idea became reality.
The story of Continental Coaches Group begins not in 2012, but in the decades that came before. In 1949, Hans van der Berg launched Oranje Touring from a depot in Rotterdam with two coaches and a vision for connecting post-war Netherlands. Seven years later, Karl Schmidt founded Schmidt Reisen in Frankfurt, building a reputation for reliability on Germany's growing autobahn network. And in 1962, Jean-Pierre Lefèvre established Voyages Lefèvre in Liège, Belgium — a company that would become synonymous with cross-border group travel in the Benelux.
By the time the second generation took over these companies in the 1990s, Europe had changed. Open borders, the single market, and the explosion of European business travel created demand that no single regional operator could fully meet. The grandchildren of the founders — Maximilian Schmidt, Claire Lefèvre, and Daan van der Berg — recognised this opportunity.
They met at a European coach operators' conference in Bruges in 2010. Two years of negotiation, legal work and family conversations later, the merger was complete. Continental Coaches Group B.V. was incorporated in Amsterdam on 1 March 2012 — three families, one company, one vision for European connectivity.
CCG incorporated in Amsterdam. Merger of Oranje Touring, Schmidt Reisen and Voyages Lefèvre complete.
Central operations center opened in Amsterdam. First cross-border charter contracts signed.
Frankfurt hub opened. DACH fleet expanded to 65+ vehicles. First partnership agreements in Eastern Europe.
Partner network reaches 28 countries. CCG becomes first coach company to offer single-invoice pan-European billing.
Real-time GPS tracking portal launched for corporate clients. ISO 9001 certification achieved.
Fleet surpasses 100 vehicles. Annual passenger count exceeds 2 million.
Electric vehicle research programme initiated. Benelux electric depot charging infrastructure installed.
First 12 electric coaches deployed on Benelux routes. Gold Standard carbon offset programme launched.
Fleet exceeds 180 vehicles. 3M+ annual passengers. Net-zero-by-2040 commitment announced.
The full story of three families across three generations.
Read more →Meet the third generation leading CCG today.
Read more →How we ensure every passenger travels safely.
Read more →Our EU licences, ISO certification and industry memberships.
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