Erik Ebens, founder of Travel Agency Ebens in Utrecht, passed away in the night from Monday to Tuesday.
He was, certainly a few years ago, a familiar face in the travel industry.
His former fellow entrepreneur Pieter Kuijs (Zonvaart Reizen) wrote the following in memoriam.
Erik Ebens had been the owner and founder of the travel agency on the Oudegracht in Utrecht since 1974, and later also in Woerden, Vianen and Houten.
He used to be known among his colleagues as a source of information because of his travel experiences, and because of the unusual working conditions he applied to his employees.
It was mandatory to go on a study trip a few times a year, not organized by tour operators but by the employees themselves.
Even for a long trip, approval was regularly given if you went on unpaid leave.
He himself has seen ‘the whole world’ and has also traveled for months at a time.
Legendary is the overland trip from Alaska to Panama, during which he regularly reported in the Reisrevue (predecessor of TravMagazine) and of which a booklet was later published.
Erik passed away in his sleep at home in his beloved Utrecht on July 30th; He was 73 years old.
His health had been deteriorating for years and he was no longer so mobile.
Actually, he only came out of the house in a wheelchair or with a mobility scooter.
As he himself said a few days before his death: ‘I’ve had a beautiful life and made the most of it, it’s good.’ The farewell will be on Monday, August 5 at 2:00 p.m. at Daelwijck cemetery/crematorium, Floridadreef 7 in Utrecht North.
