Eurostar train from London to Paris
 

The very first public Eurostar, arrived at Amsterdam Centraal on 4 April 2018 with me on board - in seat 61, of course.  Eurostar's new e320 trains have the necessary signalling systems & electric traction voltages to operate to Amsterdam.

Buy Eurostar tickets to Amsterdam

For tickets between London & other destinations such as Utrecht, Den Haag. Leiden, Arnhem, Groningen, use www.nsinternational.nl.

London to Amsterdam in 4 hours

Eurostar runs direct trains from London to Rotterdam & Amsterdam, taking 3h30 to Rotterdam & 4 hours to Amsterdam.

The Man in Seat 61 says, "It's one of the world's busiest air routes.  Eurostar now runs London-Amsterdam trains in just 4 hours with up to 80% lower CO2 emissions than a flight.  Centre to centre with power sockets & free WiFi and (in 1st class) a meal & wine served at your seat.  It's a game-changer for London-Amsterdam."

Important update from June 2024 until 9 February 2025

The Eurostar terminal in Amsterdam has closed for 6 months while Amsterdam Centraal is refurbished and a new larger Eurostar terminal built in one of the under-track passageways.

In the London to Amsterdam direction, Eurostar trains run direct several times per day as shown below. 

In the Amsterdam to London direction, you take a Eurostar from Amsterdam or Rotterdam to Brussels (with zero check-in), you get off in Brussels and go through security & border control in the Eurostar terminal, then re-board a Eurostar from Brussels to London.  The current terminal can only process 250 passengers for a 900-seat train, the new terminal at Amsterdam will be able to check in up to 650 passengers.

Normal direct service in both directions now due to resume on 10 February 2025.

small bullet point  Train times London to Amsterdam

small bullet point  Train times Amsterdam to London

small bullet point  How much does it cost?

small bullet point  How to buy tickets

small bullet point  Through tickets to Any Dutch Station

small bullet point  Check-in procedure

small bullet point  On board classes, facilities, pets & luggage

small bullet point  About the journey

small bullet point  Route map

small bullet point  Video guide

small bullet point  London St Pancras station guide

small bullet point  Rotterdam Centraal station guide

small bullet point  Amsterdam Centraal station guide

small bullet point  Suggested hotels in Amsterdam & Rotterdam

small bullet point  London to Amsterdam by Stena Line Rail & Sail

Timetable outward until 9 February 2025

 London ► Amsterdam

 

Monday-Friday

Saturday

Sunday

 London St Pancras dep.

06:16

11:04

18:04

08:16

11:04

08:16

11:04

18:04

 Brussels Midi

arr.

09:12

14:05

21:12

11:12

14:05

11:12

14:05

21:12

 Rotterdam Centraal arr.

10:32

15:32

22:32

12:32

15:32

12:32

15:32

22:32

 Amsterdam Centraal arr.

11:15

16:15

23:15

13:15

16:15

13:15

16:15

23:15

Direct trains continue to run all year in this direction.

Important:  The 08:16 from London to Amsterdam won't run from September to December 2024.

Timetable inward until 9 February 2025

 Amsterdam ► London

 

Monday-Friday

Saturday

Sunday

 Amsterdam Centraal dep.

No direct Eurostars in this direction until early 2025.

There are a range of departures every day by Eurostar from Amsterdam & Rotterdam to Brussels, check in there for a Brussels-London Eurostar.  Check times at www.eurostar.com or www.nsinternational.nl.

 Rotterdam Centraal dep.

 Brussels Midi dep.

 London St Pancras arr.

Notes for timetable

Weekend service often varies and often opens late for booking due to trackwork planning in the Netherlands.

Check times online at www.nsinternational.nl or eurostar.com.  There is a 30-minute minimum check-in for Eurostar.

London to Amsterdam is 585 km (363 miles).  London to Rotterdam is 515 km (320 miles).

How much does it cost?

How to buy tickets

Additional departures with change in Brussels

Travelling from other British stations

Travelling to other Dutch stations:  Utrecht, Den Haag, Leiden, Arnhem...

Eurostar at Amsterdam Centraal

The morning Eurostar from London arrived at Amsterdam Centraal, 3h55 from central London.

Eurostar at Amsterdam Centraal

Check in at London St Pancras

Check-in gates   Eurostar departure lounge

Ticket gates at London St Pancras.

 

Departure lounge at London St Pancras.

Check-in at Amsterdam Centraal

Eurostar terminal at Amsterdam Centraal   Inside the future Eurostar terminal at Amsterdam Centraal

Check-in at Rotterdam Centraal

Eurostar terminal at Rotterdam Centraal

What's it like on board?

Eurostar e320   1st class seats on an e320 Eurostar

All aboard for Rotterdam & Amsterdam!

 

1st class:  Plus or Premier seating.

Eurostar e320 2nd class seats   Eurostar e320 cafe-bar

Standard class.  Sockets & free WiFi at all seats.

 

One of two cafe-bars, in cars 8 & 9.

Eurostar e320   Eurostar e320

Baby-changing facilities in all toilets.

 

Plenty of luggage space at the end of each car.

Table for two on a Eurostar to Amsterdam   The very first public Eurostar to Amsterdam on 4 April 2018

Seat 61!  A table for two in 1st class, easily the nicest seating arrangement for couples.

 

Boarding at St Pancras.  This is the very first public Eurostar to Amsterdam on 4 April 2018.

Meals & drinks are included in Plus & Premier

A light breakfast or cold light meal is served in Plus, included in the fare.  A cooked breakfast or hot meal is served in Premier.  Examples of each are shown below.  If your train leaves before 11:00, you'll get breakfast, 11:00 or later and you'll get a meal with wine.

Standard Premier breakfast   Standard Premier meal

Eurostar Plus light breakfast.

 

Lunch with a view:  Eurostar Plus meal.

Business Premier breakfast   Eurostar Business Premier dinner

Eurostar Premier cooked breakfast.

 

Eurostar Premier lunch or dinner.

About the journey

After leaving St Pancras the train tunnels through north London and emerges on the north bank of the Thames.  Look out for the impressive QE2 road suspension bridge on your right, carrying the M25 across the Thames.  The Eurostar then tunnels briefly under the Thames to reach Kent, speeding past Kentish woods and fields.  The Eurostar crosses the River Medway on a high viaduct, on your left is the M2 motorway bridge but over the top of that you can make out Rochester Castle and Cathedral in the distance.  On your right is the nicest view, the River Medway and its muddy banks dotted with small boats.  The train passes Ashford station non-stop over a dramatic flyover and just half an hour from London it slows slightly and enters the Channel Tunnel.  The tunnel transit takes just 20 minutes, but your phone reception and Eurostar's WiFi still work even deep under the Channel and regular Eurostar travellers hardly notice the tunnel these days.  When you burst back into daylight, you're in France.  You can just see the tower of Calais town hall on the skyline to your left as the train begins its race past the fields and villages of Northern France at 300 km/h, 186 mph.  The lights of Lille Europe station flash past (the trains is non-stop to Brussels) and shortly afterwards it enters Belgium.  The train stops at Brussels Midi for several minutes.  The Eurostar speeds through Antwerp Central non-stop and crosses into the Netherlands, where there are several wide river crossings including the Moerdijk bridge over the Hollands Diep at the mouth of the River Maas.  The train stops at Rotterdam Centraal then 40 minutes later rolls into Amsterdam Centraal, a mere stroll from Amsterdam's famous canals.

Dutch windmill seen from Eurostar to Amsterdam

Our Eurostar is now in Holland!  North & South Holland are two provinces of the 12 that make up the Netherlands.  To understand the difference between Holland and The Netherlands, watch this nifty video.

Crossing the Moerdijk Bridge over the Hollands Diep

Returning south across the Moerdijk Bridge over the Hollands Diep (an estuary of the Rhine & Meuse rivers) in early evening, between Rotterdam & Antwerp.

Route map

Eurostar route map

 

Click for larger map

Red = high-speed lines Highlighted = Eurostar route.

Black = conventional lines.  Green = scenic routes

Reproduced from the excellent European Rail Map with kind permission of the European Rail Timetable people. 

Buy a copy of the European Rail Map for your travels at www.europeanrailtimetable.eu with shipping worldwide.

European rail map and timetable

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Video guide


Suggested hotels in Amsterdam

Suggested hotels in Rotterdam

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