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Amsterdam to Brugge / Bruges by train
All that’s good to know about taking the train from Amsterdam to Bruges / Brugge
There are no direct trains from Amsterdam to Brugge / Bruges, but they are two routes to choose from, both of which have only one straightforward connection.
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Routes
From Amsterdam Centraal / Amsterdam CS to Brugge
Journey Summary
3hr 17min*
Daily
Travel Information
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.
up to 14 x connections per day
(The connections aren't quite 1 x per hour, but this journey option is available in most hours during the day).
Tickets
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.
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| NS Intl | from €34 | |
| B-Europe | from €34 |
Train 1
Travelling On
Journey Features
Good to Know
Final Destination: Paris Nord or Marne La Vallé
All trains also call at: Schiphol and Rotterdam
Of the two options for making the train journey from Amsterdam to Antwerpen, this is the fastest because the Thalys trains travel on high speed lines for virtually the entire journey.
And the high speed line is also now the most direct route between these two cities.
It's not a scenically interesting journey, but look out around 15 mins before the train is due to arrive in Antwerpen for the dramatic crossing of the location of where the River Rhine meets the North Sea.
Train 2
Travelling On
Journey Features
Good to Know
Final Destination: Oostende
All Trains also call at: Gent-Dampoort, Gent-Sint Pieters
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