All that’s good to know about taking the train from Amsterdam to Bruges / Brugge

Look up this journey on the ticket agents and you will see a typical journey time of 2hrs 43 mins.

However, to reach Brugge/Bruges in that time you have to make an ambitious 7 min connection at Antwerpen-Centraal station and make an additional change of train at Gent/Ghent/Gand.

But there are also hourly direct IC trains between Antwerpen and Brugge.

So to save ascending four levels of Antwerpen-Centraal station against the clock (the trains to Gent/Brugge depart from the top level of the station), SMTJ's suggestion is take your time and wait for the direct train to Brugge from Antwerpen.
It will have a final destination of Oostende and should be departing 36mins after the Thalys has arrived.

Your tickets will be valid either:

• if you take the earlier train and make another connection in Gent
• or hang back and take the direct train to Brugge.

Alternative routing via Bruxelles/Brussels:

When looking up this journey on the ticket agents, you will also see journey times of around 3hr 12mins, which involve a change of train in Bruxelles/Brussels.

So faster than this suggested routing that involves changing trains at Antwerpen and then taking a direct train from there to Brugge, but also usually more expensive.

Also despite the need to change levels in Antwerpen Centraal station; making the transfer between trains at Antwerpen is arguably less confusing than changing trains at Bruxelles-Midi station.

Book early and save: Yes

Online bookings open: 4 months ahead of the travel date

You won't see this combination of Thalys train + direct IC trains from Antwerpen to Brugge on sale on the ticket agents.

They will always assume that you will want to make an additional change of trains in Gent and get to Brugge 36mins faster.

But if you do want to follow this suggestion of having a less stressful journey by cutting out the change of train in Gent, still book  the Thalys + IC journey  that will have 'x2' or '2 changes'.

Seats on Belgian IC trains can't be reserved so simply hang back and Antwerpen and use your ticket(s) on the direct train from there to Brugge.

The alternative train/ticketing option:

There are also Intercity (IC) trains from Amsterdam to Antwerpen

The limited numbers of cheapest discounted tickets for the faster option Thalys + IC train journeys can be cheaper than the slower alternative, of making the entire journey by a combination of IC trains.

However, when the cheapest tickets have sold out for the Thalys + IC train journeys, you can save money by taking the journey options that solely involve taking a combination of InterCity trains.

On the Eurostar train to Bruxelles

The ticket terms are:

*Exchanges

Book to travel in Standard and Eurostar Plus class:
The booked date and time can be exchanged to a different departure to the same destination up to one hour before departure time.

• If the cost of your new ticket is more than the cost of your original ticket, you will be required to pay the difference;
• If the cost of your new ticket is less than the cost of your original ticket, you will not receive a refund of the difference.

Book to travel in Eurostar Premier class:
The booked date and time can be exchanged to a different departure to the same destination up to 48hrs after departure time (from November 4th 2024).

• If the cost of your new ticket is more than the cost of your original ticket, you will be required to pay the difference;
• If the cost of your new ticket is less than the cost of your original ticket, you will not receive a refund of the difference.

The Eurostar ticket terms summary is here

Refunds

Book to travel in Standard and Eurostar Plus class:

• Up to seven days or more before the date of departure you will need to pay a fee of £25 per person for a one-way / single ticket and £50 per person for a two-way / return ticket - So you will only receive any sum you paid in excess of these sums.
• Less than seven days before the date of departure, tickets are non-refundable - Also applies if you exchanged a ticket to an alternative departure, under seven days ahead.

Book to travel in Premier class:
Up until 48hrs after departure time (from November 4th 2024), tickets can be refunded at no additional cost,

The Eurostar ticket terms summary is here

Child tickets
Children under the age of 12 travel at a flat rate price of €15 in Standard, €20 in Comfort and €30 in Premium Class.
Source = Eurostar

Bike Tickets

Tickets are not-required as non-folding bikes can only be taken on board as hand luggage - as both wheels must be removed and everything must be covered by a non-rigid cover with maximum dimensions of 135 x 85 x 30 cm.

Dog Tickets

Charged at a flat fee rate of €30, but the payment will be taken by the train conductor, as these tickets cannot be booked online.