Amsterdam to Bruges by train - with a coffee or beer at a cathedral of a station: Antwerp Central...

Bruges to Amsterdam from €29, www.nsinternational.nl

You can travel from Bruges to Amsterdam by train in as little as 2h44 with departures every hour or so, fares from €29.  Train is the safe & comfortable way to go!  If you're going in the Amsterdam to Bruges direction, click here.

How to check times & buy tickets

• Buy tickets & check times at www.nsinternational.nl.

  This is the site to use for Bruges-Amsterdam tickets because it's the official Dutch Railways international website, there is no mark-up or booking fee, it accepts international credit cards, you can use it wherever you live.

• But don't just pick a departure at random from the search results...

  Some departures have 1 change of train, others 2.  Some use high-speed Thalys trains, other lower-speed IC (Intercity) trains, some go via Antwerp, others via Brussels.  This page explains the options, including my recommended option with just one unhurried change of train with a coffee or beer at the lovely Antwerp Central...

• You print your own ticket (A4 paper, US Letter size is fine) or download the NS International app, load your e-ticket & show it on your phone.

The five options

• Option 1,  Bruges to Ghent by IC train, Ghent to Antwerp by IC train, Antwerp to Amsterdam by high-speed Thalys.  Takes 2h46, 2 changes.

• Option 2,  Bruges to Ghent by IC train, Ghent to Antwerp by IC train, Antwerp to Amsterdam by IC train.  Takes 3h37, 2 changes.

• Option 3,  Bruges to Brussels by IC train, Brussels to Amsterdam by high-speed Thalys train.  Takes 3h13, but only 1 change.

• Option 4,  Bruges to Brussels by IC train, Brussels to Amsterdam by IC train.  Takes 4h10, but only 1 change.

• Option 5, not immediately offered by journey planners, but the way I'd recommend:  Bruges to Antwerp by direct IC train, a coffee or beer & look round one of Europe's most beautiful stations, then Antwerp to Amsterdam by high-speed Thalys.  Takes 3h17, 1 change.

• Each option has departures every hour or two through the day, every day of the week.

Which should you choose?

• Antwerp is far nicer place to change trains than Brussels...

  Antwerp Central station is one of Europe's most beautiful stations and a much, much nicer place than the dingy Brussels Midi, trust me on this.  Options via Antwerp appear to involve two changes, but it can be done with just one easy change in Antwerp as I explain below...

• If you want speed & comfort & are willing to book ahead & commit...

  Options 1, 3 & 5 involve a high-speed Thalys train.  Thalys is fast & comfortable and you get reserved seats, but you need to book in advance and commit to a specific departure, limited or no refunds or changes allowed.  It's affordable in advance, expensive at short-notice.

• If you want to stay flexible or to buy a ticket at short notice...

  Options 2 & 4 uses IC (Intercity) trains all the way.  Intercity trains are not as comfy as Thalys and take longer, but you don't have to nail your plans to the floor months in advance, it's affordable even if you buy on the day.  InterCity trains need no reservation, they can't sell out, tickets are good for any train that day not just the one you select when booking.  You sit where you like.

Which option do I recommend?

• Option 5, without a doubt!

  Trains run from Bruges to Antwerp every half hour.  One departure per hour involves a 7-minute change at Ghent, the other one is direct from Bruges to Antwerp with no changes.

  Journey planners such as the one at www.nsinternational.nl always suggest the fastest connection, so they tell you to take an IC train from Bruges to Ghent, make a rushed 7 minute connection onto another IC from Ghent to Antwerp then make another tight 7 minute connection onto a Thalys to Amsterdam Centraal.  Fastest isn't always best.  Wouldn't you prefer just one change of train and an unhurried connection?

  So I recommend leaving Bruges half an hour earlier on the direct IC train from Bruges to Antwerp with no need to change in Ghent.  These direct trains runs every hour and arrive at Antwerp Central platforms 1-6 on the upper level.

  In Antwerp you now have a robust & unhurried 36-minute connection into the Thalys with time to look around one of Europe's most beautiful stations.  For a coffee or beer, go to the lovely Royal Cafe in Antwerp Central's main hall (www.brasserieroyal.be), a stone's throw from the platform where you arrive from Bruges.  Why not catch the previous hour's Bruges-Antwerp IC train so you've time for some cake as well?  Or leave several hours earlier and explore Antwerp old town?  The city hall is a 21 minute walk from the station, see map of Antwerp & directions.

  The Thalys to Amsterdam leaves from platform 22 on the lowest level, reached down escalators or lifts.  See photos of Antwerp station below.

  Sound good?  This is a variation of Option 1 which I'm calling Option 5.  But it's not rocket science!

• Book this journey at www.nsinternational.nl.  Buy a ticket for a 2-change option via Ghent & Antwerp marked IC, Thalys.

  On the Antwerp to Amsterdam section the ticket is only good for the specific Thalys you book, and you'll get reserved seats for this.  But from Bruges to Antwerp it's an open ticket good for any IC train that day, not just for the 2-train combo you appear to have booked.

  Simply look up the times of an earlier direct Bruges-Antwerp IC train using www.nsinternational.nl and take that instead!  No reservation necessary or possible, just hop on your chosen departure and sit where you like.

• At Amsterdam Central you'll need your ticket to open the ticket gates - simply scan the QR code.  See the Amsterdam Central station guide.

How much does it cost?

• Options 1, 3 & 5 involve Thalys so have airline-style pricing.  Fares start at €36 in 2nd class or €78 in 1st class.

  This rises to much more expensive prices close to departure.

  Tickets are only good for the specific Thalys you book, but can be used on any connecting IC train that day.

• Options 2 & 4 have a regular fixed price with unlimited availability, €59.40 in 2nd class or €94.30 in 1st class.

  If you book ahead, Early Bird fares start at €29 in 2nd class Monday-Thursday, €39 Friday-Sunday.

  IC tickets are good for any train that day, not just the one you select.

What are the trains like?

1. Bruges to Brussels or Antwerp by Belgian Intercity (IC) train.

1st & 2nd class with air-conditioning, luggage racks, toilets.  There's no catering on board, so bring your own supplies.

A Belgian intercity (IC) train arrived at Antwerp Central platform 1...

2nd class seats.  Larger photo.		1st class seats.  Larger photo.

2.  Brussels or Antwerp to Amsterdam by Thalys

Thalys high-speed trains travel at up to 300km/h (186 mph).  They are air-conditioned and carpeted, with free WiFi, power sockets at all seats & a cafe-bar, see the Thalys information page.  However, a ticket for a Thalys commits you to a specific train, with a seat reservation automatically included.  The cheaper tickets mean no refunds and no changes to travel plans.  Thalys fares are cheap if you book in advance, but expensive if you buy on or near your departure date.

A Thalys at Amsterdam Centraal.  See full-screen panorama photos inside a Thalys train.  More info on Thalys.

Comfort & Premium seats, 2+1 across car width.  Larger photo.		Standard seats, 2+2 across.  Larger photo...

...or by Intercity (IC) train...

The Brussels-Antwerp-Amsterdam IC trains are comfortable enough, though not as comfy as Thalys and there's no WiFi or catering so bring your own food & drink.  There are no seat reservations, you sit where you like.  There are power sockets in 1st class, but not in 2nd.  These IC trains now use the high-speed line between Amsterdam & Antwerp, but only at up to 160 km/h (100 mph) and they make more stops so they're slower than Thalys.  But they're much more flexible as tickets are good for any IC train that day (miss one, catch the next one!) and you can stop off to see Antwerp or Rotterdam for a few hours if you like.  Tickets are affordable even on the day and the regular fare cannot sell out, so there's no need to nail your plans to the floor months in advance as with Thalys.

An InterCity train at Brussels Midi, jointly run by NS & SNCB (Dutch & Belgian railways...

InterCity train 2nd class seats.  See larger photo.		InterCity train 1st class seats.  See larger photo.

Tips for changing trains in Antwerp

• If you buy a Bruges to Amsterdam ticket for options 1 or 3 including my recommended option 5, you change trains in Antwerp.  Antwerp Central is one of Europe's most beautiful stations, see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antwerpen-Centraal_railway_station.  It's a shining example of how to combine a historic station with extra platforms, extra retail and new high-speed tracks running underground.

• Antwerp central was originally a terminus with one level of dead-end tracks, now platforms 1-6 one floor above street level.  There's now a retail level below (at street level), then another lower level of platforms (11-14), another mezzanine floor and then a third and lowest level of platforms (21-24) which are on the lines running across Antwerp in a tunnel.  When these lines were built it took away the need for Paris - Brussels - Amsterdam trains to reverse (change direction) in Antwerp's dead-end platforms.  A vast atrium brings natural light down to the lowest platforms, with lifts and escalators linking all the levels. 

• The train from Bruges to Antwerp arrives at the original above-ground terminus level, platforms 1-6.  The onward train to Amsterdam will leave from platform 22, on the lowest level below ground.  A few minutes between trains is sufficient, as all you're doing is stepping off one train, walk to the other and step on.  But it's really worth taking the time to have a look around!

The beautiful Antwerp Central station, built between 1895 & 1905.  Larger photo.		Upper levels with platforms 6, 5, 4 on the left, platforms 3, 2, 1 out of shot to the right, main retail floor in the foreground.

Here you can see platforms 1-6 above, I'm standing on the main retail level, the next level down is platforms 11-14.  Platforms 22 & 23 are out of shot below the lower escalators.  Larger photo.		Antwerp Central's beautiful main hall.  Make sure you see this between trains!  The Royal Cafe is inside this main hall, the ideal place for a coffee or more.  Larger photo.

Royal Cafe, Antwerp Central

The cafe is inside the station and can be accessed from the main hall.  There's a bar, or table service for coffee, beer & snacks.  See www.brasserieroyal.be.

Inside the Royal Cafe, Antwerp Central station, www.brasserieroyal.be.

Tips for changing trains in Brussels:  See Brussels Midi station guide

• If you book a ticket for options 2 or 4 via Brussels, your ticket will be good for any IC train from Bruges to Brussels that day, not just the one the booking system suggests (which will no doubt involve a tight connection in Brussels).  So by all means take an earlier one and have a less hurried connection, or even spend a few hours exploring Brussels if you like.  However, if you are using Thalys your ticket is only good for the specific Thalys you book on the Brussels to Amsterdam part of the journey.  If you're using an IC train from Brussels to Amsterdam, it's also good for any IC train that day.

Recommended hotel in Bruges

• In Bruges, if you can afford it and for somewhere really special, try the Relais Bourgondisch Cruyce, a luxurious and romantic boutique-style hotel in a fabulous location on the canal and within easy walking distance of all the sights.

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