 Amsterdam to Brussels by train:
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A choice of two types of train
There are two different types of direct train between Brussels & Amsterdam, the all-reserved Eurostar (formerly Thalys) high-speed trains or more flexible hourly EuroCity Direct (ECD) trains, which are now almost as fast. There's also a third option with a change of train, slower but cheaper.
Option 1, Amsterdam-Brussels by
high-speed Eurostar - fastest & most comfortable.
Option 2: Amsterdam-Brussels
by Eurocity Direct - cheaper & almost as fast!
Option 3: Amsterdam-Brussels
by IC & Eurocity - cheapest, but slower & involves a change of train.
Amsterdam-Brussels train route map
Option 1, Amsterdam to Brussels by Eurostar
Fastest & most comfortable
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Eurostar (formerly Thalys) trains link Amsterdam Centraal & Brussels Midi every hour or two in 1h50.
Eurostars run at up to 300 km/h (186 mph) on the high-speed line. They're all-reserved with airline-style dynamic pricing, so book ahead. They're carpeted & air-conditioned, with power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
They have 3 classes: Standard (2nd class), Plus (1st class) & Premier (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 Plus or Premier class ticket.
You can access a lounge in Brussels with a Premier class ticket, though the bar at the Pullman hotel makes a better waiting lounge whatever class you book.
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Between Amsterdam & Brussels, Eurostar trains call at Schiphol airport, Rotterdam Centraal & Antwerp, but not 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).
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If you have an Interrail or Eurail pass I'd use option 2, as Eurostars require seat reservation for a hefty €20+ fee and there's a limited quota for passholders so they can sell out for passholders close to departure, even when seats remain available.
How much does it cost?
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Fares start at €25 in Standard, €45 in Plus (1st class) or €92 in Premier (premium 1st class).
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Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead. On the day it costs over €90 full-flex in standard class, ouch!
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All tickets come with a seat reservation and are only valid on the specific departure 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, see option 2.
How to buy tickets
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Option 1, buy at www.eurostar.com, the operator's own website.
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Option 2, buy from Dutch Railways at www.nsinternational.com.
Using www.nsinternational.com has two advantages, (a) it can book to/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 or can show it on your phone.
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Option 3, you can also buy Amsterdam-Brussels Eurostar 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.
What are Eurostars like?
A Eurostar at Brussels Midi. More about Eurostar (formerly Thalys).
Option 2, Amsterdam to Brussels by Eurocity Direct
Almost as fast, cheaper, hourly departures
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200 km/h Eurocity Direct (ECD) trains link Amsterdam Zuid & Brussels Midi every hour in around 2h08, only 18 minutes slower than Eurostar.
These ECD trains were introduced in December 2024, replacing the old Intercity service. They only call at Amsterdam Zuid, Schiphol airport, Rotterdam Centraal, Antwerp Centraal & Brussels Midi.
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Departures from Amsterdam Zuid
Monday-Friday hourly from 06:04 to 21:04 at xx:04 minutes past each hour.
Saturday & Sunday hourly from 06:03 to 21:03 at xx:03 minutes past each hour.
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Departures from Brussels Midi
Monday-Friday hourly from 06:49 to 21:49 at xx:49 minutes past each hour.
Saturday & Sunday hourly from 06:57 to 21:57 at xx:57 minutes past each hour.
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What are the trains like?
Eurocity Direct services are operated by 200 km/h ICNG (Intercity New Generation) trains with WiFi, power sockets, USB ports, a mix of seating types in both classes, luggage racks, bike spaces, wheelchair accessible toilets and easy level boarding. There are no reserved seats, these are mass transit, you get on and sit where you like. There's normally no problem finding a seat.
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Amsterdam Zuid, not Amsterdam Centraal!
On the downside, they use Amsterdam Zuid in the financial district on the A10 ring road instead of the centrally-located Amsterdam Centraal.
You have to decide whether to take the metro between Amsterdam Zuid and downtown Amsterdam, or change trains at Schiphol to go to/from Amsterdam Centraal. If you prefer Amsterdam Centraal, try specifying this when booking, but if the system has problems finding a connection, simply buy separate Amsterdam-Schiphol & Schiphol-Brussels tickets. An Amsterdam-Schiphol ticket is good for any NS (Dutch Railways) train.
The Eurostar trains have the advantage that they still use the more conveniently located Amsterdam Centraal.
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If you have an Interrail or Eurail pass
If you have an Interrail or Eurail pass, these are the best trains to take as no reservation is needed, there's nothing extra to pay, just hop on any departure and sit where you like.
How much does it cost?
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Full-flex fare = €65.80 in 2nd class or €99.30 in 1st class.
Good for any EuroCity Direct train on the day it's bought for, not just the train you pick when booking (but not valid on Eurocity trains).
Unlimited availability at these prices. No reservation necessary or possible, take any departure, sit where you like.
Fully refundable up to and including the day before travel, on the day of travel it becomes non-refundable.
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Saver fares start at €25 in 2nd class or €40 in 1st class.
Saver fares are only good for the specific departure you choose.
You can change the date or departure time (paying any difference in fare), or get a refund (less a €5 admin fee) up to and including the day before travel. On the day of travel, no changes or refunds.
They must be bought at least 3 days in advance, the price varies like air fares.
How to buy tickets
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Buy from Dutch Railways at www.nsinternational.com.
Look for journeys with 0 transfers marked Eurocity Direct.
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. Saver 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 or can show it on your phone.
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You can also buy at Omio.com, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee.
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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 ECD trains are good for any ECD train that day, not just the one you book, no reservation necessary or possible. You can take whichever one you like on that day.
What are EuroCity Direct trains like?
These modern ICNG (Intercity New Generation) trains have power sockets, USB ports & free WiFi. There's a mix of seating types in both classes, luggage racks, bike spaces, wheelchair accessible toilets and easy level boarding.
An ICNG (InterCity New Generation) train at Brussels Midi. These operate EuroCity Direct services since December 2024.
Option 3, slowest but cheapest
There's one other option worth considering if you don't mind changing trains in Rotterdam and want a cheaper fare. This cheaper option is well hidden, but you can find it if you follow these booking instructions.
You take a Dutch domestic Intercity (IC) train between Amsterdam Centraal & Rotterdam Centraal and the hourly Eurocity train between Rotterdam Centraal & Brussels Midi (that's plain Eurocity as opposed to Eurocity Direct). The Eurocity trains use spacious and comfortable Belgian i11 trains. They run via Breda so take significantly longer than the Eurocity Direct trains, but fares are significantly cheaper.
How much does it cost?
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Full-flex fare = €47.70 in 2nd class or €78.60 in 1st class.
Good for any EuroCity train on the day it's bought for, not just the train you pick when booking (but not valid on EuroCity Direct trains).
Unlimited availability at these prices. No reservation necessary or possible, you can take any departure & sit where you like.
Fully refundable up to and including the day before travel, on the day of travel it becomes non-refundable.
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Saver fares start at €18.30 in 2nd class or €36.90 in 1st class.
Saver fares are only good for the specific Eurocity departure you choose (but you can use any Dutch domestic departure between Amsterdam & Rotterdam that day).
You can change the date or departure time (paying any difference in fare), or get a refund (less a €5 admin fee) up to and including the day before travel. On the day of travel, no changes or refunds.
They must be bought at least 3 days in advance, the price varies like air fares.
How to buy tickets
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Buy from Belgian Railways at www.b-europe.com.
Important: To find these cheaper fares you must click Advanced search then Additional search options and then tick the No high-speed trains box. Eurostar & Eurocity Direct are considered high-speed, but the plain Eurocity trains aren't.
What are the Eurocity trains like?
There are 1st & 2nd class cars, but catering, power sockets or WiFi.
A Rotterdam-Breda-Brussels Eurocity train at Rotterdam Centraal.
Route map
