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International Train Services to / from Amsterdam
Amsterdam is well connected to the European rail network. Train travel is comfortable, convenient and "greener" than flying... and also gives you the real feeling of travel compared with the more sterile and security focussed airport experience. From Netherlands there are high speed rail links, Intercity services and longer "sleeper" type night services which can get you all over Europe. |
International train tickets can be easily bought at the NSHispeed counters at main stations including Amsterdam Central. They will charge you a €3.50 service fee for tickets to France, Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg and €10 for anywhere else including UK. Alternatively you could purchase your ticket online. |
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Amsterdam - Brussels - Paris
 | The phased opening of the "HSL Zuid" high speed line between Amsterdam and Belgium has significantly reduced travel times on the Amsterdam - Brussels - Paris route. Top speeds now reach 250 km/h on the Dutch section. |
Thalys is the popular high-speed train service between Amsterdam and Paris Nord which also stops at Schiphol Airport, Rotterdam, Antwerp Central and Brussels Zuid/Midi. From Amsterdam the journey takes 3h 19 to Paris, 1h 54 to Brussels and 1h 12 to Antwerp.
The lowest one-way Thalys fares (known as "Smoove") currently available from Amsterdam are Antwerp (€25), Brussels (€25) and Paris (€35) but these need to be booked in advance. Prices rise significantly closer to the travel date. You must have a reservation to get on the Thalys. Wifi internet is available on Thalys trains, free for first class passengers.
There is also an hourly Intercity train which runs between Amsterdam and Brussels jointly operated by the Dutch and Belgian railways. This service is slower than the Thalys - taking just under 3 hours - but stops at more stations along the way. Note, it can get very crowded at peak times with some passengers having to stand.
Standard 2nd class intercity singles from Amsterdam cost €37.80 to Brussels and €29.60 to Antwerp. Intercity weekend returns (outbound travel possible on Friday) are good value at €45.40 to Brussels and €35.60 to Antwerp. Reservations are not required.
From Paris you can connect onto the French TGV network - but you will probably have to transfer to a different Paris station using the Metro/RER.
Amsterdam - South of France
ZonThalys is a special "Sun" Thalys service which runs weekly during July and August. The train runs as a normal Thalys from Amsterdam to Brussels - but then continues on to Valence, Avignon, Aix-en-Provence and Marseille St Charles. Total journey time between Amsterdam and Marseille is under 7 hours and tickets cost from €60 each way. Book early.
Alternatively there are TGV services originating from Brussels running year round which bypass Paris and serve many major destinations in the south of France - including Lyon, Marseilles, Nice and the French Riviera, Montpelier and Perpignan.
Amsterdam - London via Brussels
 | To reach Netherlands from the UK by train you need to take the Eurostar from London St Pancras to Brussels Zuid / Midi - this high speed journey takes around 2 hours (via the channel tunnel with stops at Lille and Ebbsfleet) and there are 5 to 7 daily services. From Brussels you can either take the Thalys to Amsterdam or the intercity train. |
The cheapest Eurostar ticket from London to Brussels is £69 return and don't forget this is valid to any station in Belgium. If travelling on to Amsterdam (or another Dutch station) you can use your Eurostar ticket up to Antwerp. On arrival in Brussels you can purchase an Antwerp-Amsterdam standard ticket and then travel with the intercity to Amsterdam. (Note for cheapskates - your Eurostar ticket is technically valid to the very last stop before the Belgian-Dutch border, a small town called Essen and you are entitled to buy an Essen-Netherlands ticket which will be a little bit cheaper).
Buying a ticket (intercity and Eurostar) from Netherlands to London will cost from €50 one-way and €99 return - this is valid for travel from any station in the Netherlands.
For a bit more indulgence consider "Standard Premier" class on Eurostar which can be had from €189 return from Netherlands - this includes a first class ticket on the Intercity from any Dutch station and NSHispeed lounge access. On the Eurostar you get seating in dedicated carriages, complimentary newspapers/magazines and a decent 3 course meal with drinks served at your seat.
Always allow plenty of connection time when transferring to the Eurostar in Brussels - you will need to go through a security check and UK passport control.
In the future we should hopefully see some direct London to Amsterdam services which will make life simpler for travellers.
Amsterdam to Germany by train
 | Amsterdam - Frankfurt The fast and modern ICE Trains run from Amsterdam Central to Frankfurt via Dusseldorf and Cologne 7 times a day. Journey times are 2h 11 to Dusseldorf, 2h 38 to Cologne and 3h 57 to Frankfurt. Speeds between Cologne and Frankfurt approach 300 km/h. |
Lowest available return prices are from €38 to Cologne and Dusseldorf and €78 to Frankfurt. It is possible to connect to many other southern cities - there are €39 special one-way ICE fares from Netherlands to the likes of Stuttgart, Munich and Salzburg (Austria) - availability is limited but bookable online with Deutsche Bahn (DB). There is also 1 daily ICE service from Amsterdam to Basel in Switzerland via Frankfurt.
Amsterdam - Berlin This DB German InterCity train service runs 5 x a day from Amsterdam Schiphol and Amsterdam Zuid to the German capital city Berlin. The journey goes via Hilversum, Amersfoort, Apeldoorn, Deventer, Amelo and Hengelo in Netherlands. German stops include Rheine, Osnabruck, Hannover and Wolfsburg. |
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The train arrives at Berlin's stunning Hauptbanhof (pictured) and terminates at Ostbahnhof. The journey takes 6h 20 with prices from €78 return.
Night Services from Amsterdam
| There are a number of night trains that go further afield around Europe. City Night Line runs various direct services from Amsterdam to Berlin (9 hours), Munich (10 1/2 hours), Zurich (12 hours), Milan (14 1/2 hours), Prague (14 1/2 hours), Copenhagen (14 1/2 hours) and Vienna (15 1/2 hours). The cheapest one-way fares are from €29 for a seat only, a cabin bed will cost extra. |
Note - if you don't like travelling by night you could easily do most of these trips by day using the German rail network - you may need to make separate bookings via a German city to find the cheapest fares though
Going even further, EuroNight has a 27 hour service to Minsk in Belarus. This train also stops at Dusseldorf, Cologne, Berlin and Warsaw.
For the ultimate trip you could always take the EuroNight to Warsaw, then get another train to Moscow. From there you can take the Trans-Siberian Express all the way to Vladivostok, take the ferry over to Japan and on to the Shinkansen-Bullet train to Tokyo!
Related articles: How to Buy a Dutch Train ticket and Train Stations in Amsterdam
| To book a hotel (rates up to 80% off) near Amsterdam Central Station please click here. |