 Amsterdam to Brussels by train:
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A choice of two train services
The best way from Amsterdam to Brussels (or Brussels to Amsterdam) is by train. You've a choice of two different train services, the all-reserved Eurostar (formerly Thalys) high-speed trains or the slower but cheaper more flexible Intercity trains. I explain the pros & cons of each train below.
Option 1, Amsterdam-Brussels by
high-speed Eurostar - fastest & most comfortable.
Option 2, Amsterdam-Brussels
by Intercity train - slower, more flexible, cheaper at short notice.
Amsterdam-Brussels train route map
Option 1, Amsterdam to Brussels by Eurostar
The fastest & most comfortable way
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The fastest & most comfortable way is to take a Eurostar (formerly Thalys) high-speed train between Amsterdam Centraal & Brussels Midi. There's a departure every hour or two taking around 1h50.
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Eurostar (formerly Thalys) trains run at up to 300 km/h (186 mph) on the high-speed line. They're all-reserved with dynamic airline-style pricing, so book ahead.
They're carpeted & air-conditioned, with power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
They have 3 classes: Standard (2nd class), Comfort (1st class) & Premium (1st class with at-seat food & wine included in the fare). More about Eurostar (formerly Thalys) trains.
Luggage is not an issue, you take it with you and put it on the various racks above or between the seats. Nobody weighs it or measures it.
You can use the NS Lounge at Amsterdam Centraal with a Comfort or Premium class ticket, although personally I'd still head for a beer, coffee or meal at the excellent Kafe 1e Klas.
You can access the Thalys lounge in Brussels with a Premium class ticket, though the bar at the Pullman hotel is a much better waiting lounge whatever class you book.
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Between Amsterdam & Brussels, Eurostar trains call at Schiphol airport, Rotterdam Centraal & Antwerp, but they don't call at Brussels Central or Brussels Nord. Brussels Midi is also called Brussel Zuid or Brussels South, it's all the same place! Amsterdam to Brussels is 212 km (132 miles).
How much does it cost?
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Fares start at €25 in standard (2nd class), €45 in comfort (1st class) or €92 in premium (premium 1st class).
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Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead. If you buy on the day you're looking at around €89 full-flex in standard class, ouch!
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All tickets come with a seat reservation and are only valid on the specific train you book. The cheapest prices mean limited or no refunds or changes to travel plans, miss the train and your ticket becomes worthless. If you want more flexibility at an affordable price, see option 2.
How to buy tickets
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Option 1, buy tickets at www.eurostar.com, the operator's own website, easy to use with no booking fee.
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Option 2, buy tickets from Dutch Railways at www.nsinternational.nl.
This offers 2 advantages, (a) it can book to or from any Dutch station, not just Amsterdam & Rotterdam, (b) it sells high-speed Eurostar trains and the cheaper Intercity trains so you can compare prices.
Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket (A4 paper, U.S. Letter size is fine) or show a mobile ticket on your phone.
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Option 3, you can also buy Amsterdam-Brussels tickets at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee. They sell tickets for multiple European operators so you can keep all (or most) of your bookings together in one place. About Raileurope. About Thetrainline.
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Tip: Before buying a Eurostar ticket from Amsterdam to Brussels, check the fare from Amsterdam to Paris on the same train. If it's cheaper, book to Paris and get off in Brussels, nothing stops you. But buying Paris-Amsterdam and getting on in Brussels is not recommended.
Option 2, Amsterdam to Brussels by InterCity train
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InterCity (IC) trains link Amsterdam Centraal with Brussels Central in 2h48 and Brussels Midi in 2h52 with a departure almost every hour.
These old-school IC trains are comfortable enough, just not as comfortable as Eurostar (formerly Thalys), there's no WiFi or catering so bring your own food & drink. There are power sockets in 1st class, but not in 2nd. See the photos below.
You don't need a reservation, these trains have turn-up-and-go ticketing, tickets are good for any train that day. You sit where you like, there are usually plenty of free seats if you board in Amsterdam or Brussels where the train starts its journey.
Luggage is not an issue, you can take whatever you like with you and put it on the racks above your seat, between the seat backs, or at the car ends, as on any other train.
Tip: With a 1st class ticket you can use the NS Lounge at Amsterdam Centraal, although personally I'd go to the excellent Kafe 1e Klas instead.
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In April 2018 the IC trains were re-routed over the high-speed line cutting journey time from 3h22 to 2h53. However, they only run at up to 160 km/h (100 mph) not 300 km/h on the high-speed line so they're still slower than Eurostar (formerly Thalys). They also make more stops and have to change direction at Breda and Brussels Airport stations as well as calling at Schiphol, Rotterdam, Antwerp & Brussels Nord.
Slower, but more flexible
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The main advantage over Eurostar (formerly Thalys) is flexibility, as IC trains don't have seat reservations, tickets cannot sell out, you can buy a ticket on the day at an affordable price and use any IC train you like (although the cheaper advance-purchase fares now commit you to a specific departure). Your plans don't need to be nailed to the floor months in advance as with Eurostar (formerly Thalys).
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You can also stop off on the way without any formality (if you buy the full-flex fare), for example you can hop off to have a wander around Antwerp or Rotterdam, then hop any later onward train to Amsterdam, as long as you complete the journey that day.
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Another advantage over Eurostar (formerly Thalys) is that these IC trains call at Brussels Central, 5 minutes walk from the Grand Place in the heart of Brussels city centre. So if you're going to be visiting the old city and/or your hotel is in that area, taking an IC train direct to Brussels Central can be more convenient (and only a little longer) taking a Eurostar to Brussels Midi then a local train or taxi.
How much does it cost?
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Full-flex fare is €56.50 in 2nd class or €91.50 in 1st class.
No reservation necessary or possible, unlimited availability at these prices, buy a ticket, hop on the next train & sit where you like.
A regular-price ticket is good for any train on the date you buy it for, not just the one you choose when you book.
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Early Bird fares start at €25 in 2nd class or €41 in 1st class.
Early Bird fares come in several price levels with limited availability at each price, they must be bought at least 3 days in advance.
As of June 2023, advance-purchase Early Bird fares are only good for the specific departure you choose.
How to buy tickets
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Buy tickets direct from Dutch Railways at www.nsinternational.nl.
Look for journeys with 0 transfers marked IC Brussel.
Sales open a few months ahead, but no need to commit way in advance, the full-flex fare can be bought on the day of travel. Early Bird fares have limited availability, but can usually be found even 3 days in advance, there's no need to book months ahead.
You print your own ticket (A4 or US Letter paper is fine) or can show it on your phone.
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You can also buy Amsterdam-Brussels tickets at www.thetrainline.com, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee, and as it sells tickets for multiple operators you can keep all (or most) of your European train bookings together in one place. About Thetrainline.
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Tip: I'll say it again: Although it looks like you're booking a specific departure, full-flex tickets for the Brussels-Amsterdam IC trains are good for any IC train that day, not just the one you book. So you can take whichever one you like on that day.
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Tip: If you want to buy a ticket in Amsterdam on the day, use one of the many yellow self-service ticket machines, these have a touch screen and English language facility and will sell IC tickets between Amsterdam and Brussels, Bruges, Ghent & other Belgian stations.
Route map
