Brussels to Amsterdam by Train
Direct high-speed service · from €33
Route Overview: Brussels to Amsterdam
Travel from Brussels to Amsterdam by high-speed Eurostar train in approximately 1 hour 50 minutes. Direct services run up to 12 times daily between Brussels-Midi/Zuid and Amsterdam Centraal, reaching speeds of up to 300 km/h on dedicated high-speed tracks across Belgium and the Netherlands.
Eurostar operates all direct high-speed services on this route following the 2023 merger with Thalys. The journey covers 212 km by rail, with intermediate stops at Antwerp Centraal, Rotterdam Centraal and Schiphol Airport. EuroCity Direct trains also serve this route hourly (not bookable via EuroTrain).
Tickets start from €29 per person one way in Eurostar Standard class. Three classes of service are available: Standard, Plus (with cold meal at seat) and Premier (with lounge access and flexible ticket).
How Long Is the Brussels to Amsterdam Train?
The direct Eurostar from Brussels to Amsterdam takes approximately 1h 50min, with multiple daily departures.
How Much Does a Brussels to Amsterdam Train Ticket Cost?
Tickets start from €33 when booked in advance. Prices vary by date, time, and availability.
How Many Trains Run Daily from Brussels to Amsterdam?
Up to 12/day trains operate daily on the Brussels to Amsterdam route.
Train Operator
Eurostar
Direct high-speed service · 1h 50min max
Which Stations Serve the Brussels to Amsterdam Route?
Bruxelles-Midi / Brussel-Zuid
- Metro: Lines 2, 6 (Gare du Midi)
- Location: South-west Brussels
- RER SNCB domestic trains, trams, local buses. Not to be confused with Brussels-Central or Brussels-Nord.
Amsterdam Centraal
- Metro: Metro lines 51, 52, 53, 54
- GVB trams (multiple lines), ferries (behind station to Amsterdam-Noord), buses
What Classes Are Available on Brussels to Amsterdam Trains?
Eurostar Standard
- Comfortable seating
- Free WiFi
- Power outlets at every seat
- Eurostar Café (bar car) access
Eurostar Plus
- Extra legroom and wider seats
- Free WiFi
- Power outlets
- Cold meal and drinks at seat (continental routes)
- Quieter atmosphere
Eurostar Premier
- Lounge access (Brussels-Midi)
- Cold meal and drinks at seat
- Extra wide seats with maximum legroom
- Free WiFi
- Power outlets
- Priority boarding
- Flexible ticket (refundable up to 1 hour after departure)
How to Book the Brussels to Amsterdam Train?
Starting Price
Per person, one way in Eurostar Standard class. Prices shown are indicative and based on recent availability. Actual fares may vary.
Book Early
Tickets are available up to 6 months in advance. Advance bookings offer the best prices.
Children & Youth
Children 4-11 may qualify for reduced fares. Youth discounts may be available. Infants under 4 travel free
Luggage
Standard luggage allowance applies
What Should You Know About Brussels to Amsterdam Trains?
Two Train Options: Eurostar vs EuroCity Direct
There are two direct high-speed services on this route. Eurostar (formerly Thalys) trains run every 1-2 hours from Brussels-Midi to Amsterdam Centraal in 1h 50m at up to 300 km/h. EuroCity Direct (ECD) trains, introduced in December 2024, run hourly from Brussels-Midi to Amsterdam Zuid in around 2h 08m at up to 200 km/h. ECD trains are cheaper and don’t require reservations — you can board any departure with a valid ticket.
Amsterdam Centraal vs Amsterdam Zuid
Eurostar trains arrive at Amsterdam Centraal, located in the historic city centre with direct access to trams, metro and ferries. EuroCity Direct trains stop at Amsterdam Zuid, the business district (Zuidas), connected by metro lines 50, 51 and 52. If your hotel is in the city centre, Eurostar is more convenient. If heading to the RAI convention centre or Schiphol, ECD may be better.
No Passport or Security Screening Required
Unlike Eurostar services to London, the Brussels–Amsterdam route has no security screening or passport control. Both Belgium and the Netherlands are in the Schengen Area, so you can board just like a domestic train. Eurostar recommends arriving 10-20 minutes before departure. EuroCity Direct has no check-in — just hop on.
Schiphol Airport Connection
Both Eurostar and EuroCity Direct stop at Schiphol Airport station. This makes the Brussels–Amsterdam train an alternative to flying, with a direct connection from Brussels city centre to Amsterdam’s main airport in approximately 1h 30m. Useful for connecting to intercontinental flights or as a city-to-airport transfer.
High-Speed Line Network: HSL 4 + HSL-Zuid
Trains use dedicated high-speed infrastructure across both countries. In Belgium, HSL 4 runs 36 km from Antwerp to the Dutch border at 300 km/h. In the Netherlands, HSL-Zuid covers 125 km from the border to the Amsterdam area at up to 300 km/h. Between Brussels and Antwerp (47 km), trains travel on upgraded conventional tracks at up to 160 km/h.
Antwerp and Rotterdam Stops
Most trains on this route stop at both Antwerp Centraal and Rotterdam Centraal, making it easy to plan multi-city trips. Antwerp is reached in about 35 minutes from Brussels, and Rotterdam in about 1h 10m. Both cities have direct connections to the Eurostar high-speed network.
Book Early for Best Fares
Eurostar uses dynamic pricing — the earlier you book, the cheaper the ticket. Standard class fares start from €29 when booked well in advance, but can exceed €95 closer to departure. EuroCity Direct offers fixed-price saver fares from €25 in 2nd class. Eurostar tickets open 4-11 months before travel, depending on the season.
Thalys Rebranding to Eurostar
The famous red Thalys trains on this route were rebranded to Eurostar following the October 2023 merger. The trains, staff and service remain the same — only the branding has changed. The three classes are now called Eurostar Standard, Eurostar Plus and Eurostar Premier. If you see references to ‘Thalys’ on older websites, these are the same Eurostar services.
Frequently Asked Questions: Brussels to Amsterdam
The fastest Eurostar trains take approximately 1 hour 50 minutes from Brussels-Midi to Amsterdam Centraal. EuroCity Direct trains take around 2 hours 8 minutes to Amsterdam Zuid. Average journey time across all services is approximately 2 hours 6 minutes.
Eurostar Standard class fares start from €29 when booked in advance. Plus class starts from around €79 and Premier from around €109. Prices increase closer to departure — last-minute tickets can cost €95 or more in Standard. EuroCity Direct saver fares start from €25 in 2nd class.
There are approximately 12 direct Eurostar services per day between Brussels-Midi and Amsterdam Centraal, running roughly every 1-2 hours. Additionally, 16 EuroCity Direct trains run hourly between Brussels-Midi and Amsterdam Zuid. First departures are around 06:00, with last trains around 21:00.
No. Both Belgium and the Netherlands are in the Schengen Area, so there are no routine border checks or passport controls on this route. However, it is advisable to carry an identity document. Unlike Eurostar services to London, there is no security screening.
All Eurostar and EuroCity Direct trains to Amsterdam depart from Brussels-Midi/Zuid station (also known as Brussel Zuid or Bruxelles Midi). This is Brussels’ main international station, well connected by metro, tram and local trains.
Eurostar trains arrive at Amsterdam Centraal, located in the heart of the city. EuroCity Direct trains arrive at Amsterdam Zuid, the business district, which is connected to the city centre by metro (approximately 15 minutes to Centraal). Check your ticket to confirm which station.
Eurostar is faster (1h 50m vs 2h 08m), runs from Amsterdam Centraal, requires a reservation, and uses dynamic pricing starting from €29. EuroCity Direct is slightly slower, departs from Amsterdam Zuid, has no seat reservations, and offers fixed saver fares from €25. EuroCity Direct was introduced in December 2024 replacing the old Intercity Brussels-Amsterdam service.
Yes. Both Eurostar and EuroCity Direct trains stop at Antwerp Centraal and Rotterdam Centraal. With a EuroCity Direct flexible ticket, you can break your journey and board a later train. With Eurostar, you would need separate tickets for each segment as reservations are train-specific.