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How to take a rail journey from Bruxelles/Brussels to Amsterdam
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Bruxelles / Brussels to Amsterdam by train
There is a choice between two services when taking a train from Bruxelles/Brussels to Amsterdam:
1: The Eurostar (formerly Thalys) trains are faster as they exploit the maximum speed of the high speed route from Antwerp to the suburbs of Amsterdam; and when the most heavily discounted tickets are still available, they can be cheaper too!
However, they only depart from Bruxelles-Midi/Brussel-Zuid station.
Though when comparing the journey times factor in the need to pass through the security checks when accessing the trains.
2: The IC trains are slower because they divert off the direct route and also can't match the speed of the Eurostar (formerly Thalys) trains on the high speed lines that they share.
However, they're usually the cheaper option and if you will be buying tickets last minute at the station, they are money savers.
They also depart from Bruxelles-Central and Bruxelles-Nord stations in addition to Bruxelles-Midi.
If you'll be heading to Amsterdam from Bruxelles-Nord, and take a Thalys train, you will need factor in an additional 30 mins from boarding a train to Bruxelles-Midi at Bruxelles-Nord; and then making the transfer at Bruxelles-Midi.
If you will be travelling with Eurail or InterRail passes ignore the Eurostar (formerly Thalys) trains.
Routes you can take to go from Bruxelles / Brussels to Amsterdam
When travelling between most cities by train there is only one logical option, though on other journeys there is a choice between different trains or alternative routes. If different options are available you can use the info to decide which is best for you.
Choose one of the following options:
Looking for connections?
Route Information
Option 1: taking the Eurostar (formerly Thalys) trains
Station Guides
Travel Time (approx)
1hr 50 mins - 1hr 55 mins
Frequency
Daily
Travel Info
Monday - Thursday = 12 x trains per day
Friday = 13 x trains
Saturday = 7 x trains
Sunday = 12 x trains
Purchase Tickets
ShowMeTheJourney earns a small commission on Trainline ticket sales. It can be a particularly good option for: Comparing different train services; Booking international journeys with connections; Travelling between the UK to destinations beyond Amsterdam, Brussels and Paris - and for international travellers who don't reside in western Europe.
Trainline Guide
First time bookers using the Omio mobile apps (Find them at www.omio.com/apps) can save 10% on purchasers of up to €100 by using the promo code SEP24 Valid for bookings by September 30th, 2024 (11:59 pm CET).
Omio Guide
Omio is an online ticket agency which offers tickets for rail journeys in France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy and Spain.
The three key advantages of using Omio are
- it offers prices in multiple currencies
- it usually offers price comparison with other modes of travel including flights and buses
- when visiting Europe, you can book journeys in multiple countries in one transaction.
The disadvantage of booking with Omio is that it often adds a booking fee to the final price; therefore when it does so without offering a price advantage, SMTJ doesn't tend to offer Omio as a booking option.
Other Ticket Providers
B-Europe Guide
B-Europe is the website provided by Belgium's national railway operator for the sale of international rail journeys from and to Belgium.
Therefore tickets can be booked for the following international train services to/from Belgium
- Eurostar
- IC trains to France, Luxembourg and The Netherlands
- ICE trains to Germany
- Thalys trains to Germany, The Netherlands and Paris
- TGV trains to destination in France other than Paris
B-Europe offers a 'Best Fares' policy for journey by these trains.
It also sells international end-to-end journeys solely by train, with connections outside of Belgium, if you will be heading to popular destinations in Austria, Germany, Switzerland and Italy.
Users of Eurail and InterRail passes can also book seat reservations on the Eurostar and Thalys services without paying booking fees.
NS Intl Guide
NS is the Dutch national rail operator and it operates a bespoke website for the booking of international rail journeys from and to The Netherlands.
Therefore it offers tickets for journeys by:
- Thalys trains to Bruxelles and Paris
- IC trains to Berlin via Hannover and Bruxelles via Antwerpen
- Eurostar to London
- ICE trains to Basel and Frankfurt (Main) via Koln
- the Nightjet trains to Austria and Germany
NS International also sells tickets to a range of destinations in Austria, Czechia, Denmark, Italy and Switzerland, which involve a change of train in Germany, along with the destinations in France, which can be accessed by making a connection in Bruxelles.
Save A Train Guide
Happy rail Guide
Happy Rail is a Netherlands rail ticket agency which sells tickets for both national and international journeys within a range of countries including Belgium France, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland.
HappyRail doesn't charge booking fees in the conventional sense, but if you're not Dutch you can expect to pay additional transaction fees, which will be added to the total cost.
That's because the most common form of online payment used in The Netherlands is 'iDEAL' and HappyRail doesn't charge a transaction fee for 'iDEAL' payments, but only Dutch residents can sign up to 'iDEAL'.
Other forms of payment include Visa debit cards will incur a fee.
Travel Information
Final Destination: Amsterdam Centraal/CS
All trains also call at: Rotterdam and Schiphol
There can be gaps of up to two hours between departures, particularly in the middle of the day.
On Sundays the first departure of the day is usually at 09:52.
Aim to be at Bruxelles Midi/Zuid station a minimum of 10 - 15 mins before your train is due to depart.
You will have to pass through security checks before boarding this Eurostar (formerly Thalys) train and queues can build up at busy times.
These Eurostar (formerly Thalys) trains do not call at Bruxelles Central or Bruxelles Nord - but the alternative (slower) InterCity Brussels trains do call at those stations.
This is a direct journey
You will be travelling on one of these trains...
Journey Features
The train won't be travelling on a high speed line for the first part of the journey as far as Antwerp.
The fastest part of the route is when the train should travel at more than 275 km/h on the high speed line between Antwerp and Rotterdam.
On departure from Rotterdam the train will take another high speed line for most of the journey on to Schiphol Airport.
It may not be a huge surprise to discover this train ride is not on our most scenic express train journeys in Europe list, but there are two moments to look out for:
(1) Around 10 - 15 mins after departing from Antwerp, the train will race across a series of bridges over the estuary of the River Rhine, near to where it enters the North Sea.
(2) When the train nears the end of the high speed line north of Rotterdam, look out for the distant views of the windmills.
Tickets
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings open: up to 6 months ahead of the travel date
This booking period tends to be shorter when looking up journeys between mid August and mid October.
Though take care if you will be looking up a journey more than six months ahead of the travel date.
For a few weeks after the six month period the discounted ticket prices can also be available, but the non-discounted tickets can be on sale for dates further ahead.
So if you be will looking up a journey more than six months ahead and only see prices of more than €100, refrain from purchasing and return to the booking service a few weeks later.
Trains departing at different times can be cheaper than others leaving on the same day, so you may need to look through the day's departures to find the cheapest fares.
Seats will automatically be assigned when booking tickets for this journey.
*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.
Using rail passes:
If you will be travelling with a rail pass, you can avoid the rail pass reservation fees charged on these Thalys trains by taking the InterCity Brussels trains instead.
Route Information
Option 2: taking the Intercity trains
Station Guides
Travel Time (approx)
2hr 54min
Frequency
Daily
Travel Info
1 x train per hour
Purchase Tickets
First time bookers using the Omio mobile apps (Find them at www.omio.com/apps) can save 10% on purchasers of up to €100 by using the promo code SEP24 Valid for bookings by September 30th, 2024 (11:59 pm CET).
Omio Guide
Omio is an online ticket agency which offers tickets for rail journeys in France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy and Spain.
The three key advantages of using Omio are
- it offers prices in multiple currencies
- it usually offers price comparison with other modes of travel including flights and buses
- when visiting Europe, you can book journeys in multiple countries in one transaction.
The disadvantage of booking with Omio is that it often adds a booking fee to the final price; therefore when it does so without offering a price advantage, SMTJ doesn't tend to offer Omio as a booking option.
Other Ticket Providers
NS Intl Guide
NS is the Dutch national rail operator and it operates a bespoke website for the booking of international rail journeys from and to The Netherlands.
Therefore it offers tickets for journeys by:
- Thalys trains to Bruxelles and Paris
- IC trains to Berlin via Hannover and Bruxelles via Antwerpen
- Eurostar to London
- ICE trains to Basel and Frankfurt (Main) via Koln
- the Nightjet trains to Austria and Germany
NS International also sells tickets to a range of destinations in Austria, Czechia, Denmark, Italy and Switzerland, which involve a change of train in Germany, along with the destinations in France, which can be accessed by making a connection in Bruxelles.
B-Europe Guide
B-Europe is the website provided by Belgium's national railway operator for the sale of international rail journeys from and to Belgium.
Therefore tickets can be booked for the following international train services to/from Belgium
- Eurostar
- IC trains to France, Luxembourg and The Netherlands
- ICE trains to Germany
- Thalys trains to Germany, The Netherlands and Paris
- TGV trains to destination in France other than Paris
B-Europe offers a 'Best Fares' policy for journey by these trains.
It also sells international end-to-end journeys solely by train, with connections outside of Belgium, if you will be heading to popular destinations in Austria, Germany, Switzerland and Italy.
Users of Eurail and InterRail passes can also book seat reservations on the Eurostar and Thalys services without paying booking fees.
Save A Train Guide
Happy rail Guide
Happy Rail is a Netherlands rail ticket agency which sells tickets for both national and international journeys within a range of countries including Belgium France, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland.
HappyRail doesn't charge booking fees in the conventional sense, but if you're not Dutch you can expect to pay additional transaction fees, which will be added to the total cost.
That's because the most common form of online payment used in The Netherlands is 'iDEAL' and HappyRail doesn't charge a transaction fee for 'iDEAL' payments, but only Dutch residents can sign up to 'iDEAL'.
Other forms of payment include Visa debit cards will incur a fee.
Travel Information
Final Destination: Amsterdam Centraal/CS
All trains also call at: Bruxelles-Central; Bruxelles-Nord; Bruxelles Airport; Antwerpen; Breda; Rotterdam and Schiphol
Connect in Breda if you're heading to Den Bosch, Eindhoven, Nijmegen and Arnhem; travelling via Breda to these destinations will typically be quicker than taking a Thalys train to Rotterdam or Amsterdam and making the connections there.
Departing from Bruxelles/Brussels:
Note that these InterCity Brussels trains call at Bruxelles-Central station; the most convenient station for the city centre, as well as at Bruxelles-Nord.
However, the Eurostar (formerly Thalys) trains, trains do not call at these other stations in central Bruxelles/Brussels, they only depart from Bruxelles-Midi.
In some hours during the day these IC trains are the only direct trains departing Bruxelles for Amsterdam.
This is a direct journey
You will be travelling on one of these trains...
Journey Features
Good to Know
These trains reverse direction on departure from Breda.
The new ICNG trains are being gradually introduced to this route.
These 'Intercity Brussels' trains now use the more direct Dutch 'high speed' line between Breda and Schiphol Airport - so they're now around 45 mins faster than previously.
Therefore these trains no longer call at Den Haag/The Hague.
Tickets
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings open: 6 months ahead of the travel date.
There are two choices of train service between Bruxelles/Brussels and Amsterdam
(1) These Intercity Brussels/IC Brussels trains
(2) The high speed Eurostar (formerly Thalys) trains
These Intercity Brussels trains are slower than the Eurostar (formerly Thalys) trains, but typically cheaper; though if you're booking more than a couple of weeks ahead, the price difference between the two services can be less than €5.
However, when the discounted tickets for the Thalys trains are sold out, these InterCity Brussels trains are the cheapest option
So, if you will be booking tickets on your day of travel -these InterCity trains will be (much) cheaper than the Eurostar (formerly Thalys) trains.
Though your ticket will only be valid on the IC trains, if there is a delay to the IC services, or if the next IC train to leave is cancelled, you cannot then just take a Thalys train instead.
Booking tickets online:
If you want to take one of these DIRECT InterCity trains - look for the trains that have '0' changes and only 'IC Brussels' shown by the journey.
Also IF you are offered a choice of route, then choose the option 'via BREDA'.
Note that seat reservations are not available on these 'IC Brussels' trains.
Using rail passes:
Taking these IC Brussels trains is a good option for rail pass users because you can avoid the rail pass reservation fees charged on the Thalys trains.
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