 Amsterdam to Brussels by train: A Thalys at Brussels Midi.
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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 very different train services, the high-speed all-reserved Thalys trains or the slower but cheaper and more flexible Intercity trains. I'll explain the pros and cons of each train on this page...
Option 1, Amsterdam-Brussels by
high-speed Thalys - 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 Thalys
The fastest & most comfortable way
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The fastest & most comfortable option is to take a high-speed Thalys train from Amsterdam Centraal to Brussels Midi (or vice versa). There's a departure every hour or two in each direction taking around 1h50.
Thalys trains are all-reserved, with dynamic pricing like an airline, so book ahead.
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Thalys trains run at up to 300 km/h (186 mph) on the high-speed line. They're fully carpeted & air-conditioned, with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi in all classes.
They have 3 classes: Standard (2nd class), Comfort (1st class) & Premium (1st class with at-seat food & wine included in the fare). See more information about Thalys.
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 either 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 only 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 of ticket you have.
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Between Amsterdam & Brussels, Thalys 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 by Thalys train is 212 km (132 miles).
How much does it cost?
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Fares start at €29 in standard (2nd class), €45 in comfort (1st class) or €97 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 over €80 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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Buy tickets in either direction at the Dutch Railways international website www.nsinternational.nl.
Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. Look for journeys with 0 transfers marked Thalys. There's no booking fee.
You print your own ticket (A4 paper, U.S. Letter size is fine) or can show a mobile ticket on your phone.
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You can also buy Amsterdam-Brussels tickets at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com. There's a small booking fee, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, and as they sell tickets for multiple operators you can keep all (or most) of your European train bookings together in one place. About Raileurope. About Thetrainline.
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Tip: Before buying Thalys ticket in the Amsterdam to Brussels direction, check how much it costs to Paris on the same train. Sometimes it's significantly cheaper, as availability at each price level comes from a separate 'fare bucket'. If it's cheaper, book to Paris and simply get off in Brussels. This is perfectly legitimate, and nothing stops you getting off and walking away in any case. Not recommended in the Brussels to Paris direction.
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 perfectly comfortable, though not as comfortable as 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 normally plenty of free seats especially 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 various racks above your seat, between the seat backs, or at the car ends, just 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 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 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. Even the cheap advance-purchase fares can be used on any train on the day they are bought for. Your plans don't need to be nailed to the floor months in advance as with Thalys.
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You can also stop off on the way without any formality, for example you can hop off to have a wander around Antwerp or Rotterdam, then simply hop any later onward train to Amsterdam, as long as you complete the journey that day.
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Another advantage over 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 Thalys to Brussels Midi then a local train or taxi.
How much does it cost?
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The regular fare is €49.80 in 2nd class or €79.40 in 1st class.
No reservation necessary or possible, unlimited availability at these prices, just 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 Monday-Thursday (€35 in 1st class) or €33 Friday-Sunday (€47 in 1st class).
Early Bird fares come in several price levels with limited availability at each price, they must be bought at least 7 days in advance.
Until 10 June 2023, advance-purchase Early Bird tickets are good for any train on the date you buy them for, just like regular tickets. They don't commit you to a specific train, it's just cheaper to buy in advance on a no-refunds basis. So still more flexible than Thalys!
From 11 June 2023, advance-purchase Early Bird fares will only be good for the specific departure you choose.
How to buy tickets
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Buy tickets at the Dutch Railways international website www.nsinternational.nl.
Look for journeys with 0 transfers marked IC Brussel.
Sales open several months ahead, but there's no need to commit way in advance, the regular fare can be bought online and loaded into your phone on the day of travel. Early Bird fares have limited availability, but can usually be found a few weeks ahead, 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, regular full-price 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
