It can be easily booked via the Trainline site here (multi-currencies) or the NS International site (euros) with prices starting at only €14 one-way.

NS International (Dutch Railways) and NMBS/SNCB (Belgian Railways) jointly run this 16x daily direct train between Rotterdam and Brussels. It uses Belgian Intercity stock with the journey time at just over 2 hours.

There is also the faster and more premium EuroCity Direct train which operates from Amsterdam to Brussels.

Eurocity timetable (2026)

d =  departure time, a = arrival time; only main stops shown

Rotterdam to Brussels (daily)

Brussels To Amsterdam (daily)

Rotterdam-Brussels Map & Route

The Eurocity runs between Rotterdam Centraal and Brussels Zuid Midi.

In the Netherlands it travels on the HSL high speed track from Rotterdam and makes a stop in Breda.

It continues on the high-speed track across the border with further stops at Noorderkempen, Antwerp Central, Antwerp Berchem, Mechelen, Brussels Airport, Brussels North and Brussels Central.

The track between Antwerp and Brussels is a conventional rail line.

Eurocity – Total journey times:

• 2 hours 7 mins for Rotterdam-Brussels, 2 hours 6 mins for Brussels-Rotterdam.
• 1 hour 6 mins for Rotterdam-Antwerp, 1 hour 5 mins for Antwerp-Rotterdam.
• 1 hour 35 mins for Breda-Brussels and Brussels-Breda
• 34 mins for Breda-Antwerp and Antwerp-Breda

Eurocity – Total distances:

• 149km (Rotterdam Centraal-Brussels Zuid/Midi via Breda)
• 102km (Rotterdam Centraal-Antwerpen Centraal via Breda)

These are the track distances rather than point-to-point, calculated ourselves using Google Maps.

Maximum speed: 160km/h on the high-speed track

Rotterdam-Brussels Eurocity train ticket fares

Bookings for the Rotterdam-Brussels Eurocity service opens up to 335 days before travel – shorter booking horizons are possible when waiting for the following year’s fares to be made available.

There are 2 types of fares for the Eurocity Direct – Saver and Flex.

Saver Fares

• Cheaper and valid for a specific date and departure time
• Rotterdam-Brussels one-way saver fares start at €13.60 (2nd class) and €22.10 (1st class)
• Book in advance to secure lowest fares (subject to availability)
• Saver bookings are freely changeable up to 1 day before departure
• Saver bookings can be cancelled up to 1 day before departure with a €5 cancellation fee
• Non-refundable on departure day

Flex Fares

• Full-flex fares are valid on any departure for a particular day
• Rotterdam-Brussels one-way flex fares (2026) are €34.00 (2nd class) and €55.30 (1st class)
• Freely changeable and cancellable up to 1 day before departure
• Non-refundable on departure day

Up to 4 children aged 4-11 can get added for free with an adult Eurocity ticket when booking online. Youths aged 12-25 get a 25% discount on 2nd class tickets.

Those with NS subscriptions may get a specific discount on their Eurocity ticket which will be calculated during your booking.

Note: If you are travelling to Brussels Airport (Zaventem) with the Eurocity, your ticket will be slightly more expensive as it includes the ‘Diabolo’ supplement for using the airport station.

Book your Rotterdam-Brussels tickets

Eurocity train tickets can easily be booked at the Trainline site (UK based) which offers payment in multiple currencies. Check trains here:

Or book at the NS International site – this is the official Dutch Railways international arm and offers payment in euros only.

Eurocity train

Belgian Rail deploys its i11 Intercity trains on the Eurocity route with train carriages manufactured by Bombardier.

The Eurocity requires 2 locomotives at either end – this is because the train needs to change direction at Rotterdam, Breda and Brussels Zuid.

Amsterdam-Brussels Eurocity Direct train – Seats & Facilities

The 6 car i11 series train has 460 seats in a 2 class formation with open seating. The 1st class carriage (marked with a thin yellow stripe above the windows) has 60 seats. The 2nd class carriages have 80 seats.

Although there are seat numbers above the seats, the Eurocity train has free seating with no reservations.

Seats on the Amsterdam-Brussels Eurocity Direct

2nd class seats are in a 2-2 open plan configuration with a mix of airline-style directional seating or 4-seaters with small window tables.

1st class seats are in a 2-1 configuration – these seats are wider with individual armrests.

Facilities on board

• The windows on the Eurocity trains are large and offer good views.

• European power outlets are located on the wall between the windows. There are no USB points.

• Toilet facilities are available at the end of each carriage by the doors

• Some carriages are designated as a silent zone, marked on the exterior.

Luggage on Eurocity Direct

Unlike flying there are no extra charges for bringing luggage with you on your Eurocity journey. The train has overhead luggage racks above the seats.

You are officially requested only to bring luggage that you can carry on board yourself and that fits into the luggage racks provided. You cannot leave your luggage in the aisles.

Please keep an eye on your belongings at all times because opportunist thieves can be present on the route.

Bicycles on the Eurocity

It is possible to bring a bike onboard the Eurocity train in a specially marked zone.

You will need to reserve for a specific departure and buy a bike ticket. Prices vary by route – for Rotterdam-Brussels a bike ticket is €7.30 (off-peak/weekend) or €9.30 (peak hours).

Amsterdam-Brussels train trip scenery

The rail journey between Amsterdam and Brussels is not particularly renowned for its scenery though there are a few points of interest.

• Views of Rotterdam’s modern skyline and Feyenoord football stadium.
• Crossing the Hollandsch Diep by bridge.
• Glimps of Breda’s Grote Kerk church tower
• Coming into Antwerp, crossing the Albertkanaal railway bridge with distant views of the spectacular Port Authority Building designed by architect Zaha Hadid.
• Passing through Mechelen with fleeting views of the St Rumbold’s Tower on the Grote Markt.

Rotterdam Centraal Station

Eurocity operates from the modern Rotterdam Centraal station which was reopened in its current form in 2014. To enter or exit the station simply scan your Eurocity ticket at the gate barriers.

The Eurocity most often runs from platforms 6-7 or 8-9.

Breda Station

Breda has a glass and brick station building which was opened in its current form back in 2016. Like Rotterdam you need to scan your ticket at the gate barriers.

The Eurocity normally departs from platforms 5 and 6.

Antwerpen Centraal Station

Antwerpen Centraal is one of the great stations of Europe and is worthy of a visit in its own right. It was designed by Belgian architect Louis Delacenserie and was completed in 1905. It is located on Koningin Astridplein in Antwerp.

The Eurocity trains normally run at the lower levels on platforms 22-23.

Brussels Zuid/Midi station

Brussel Zuid/Bruxelles Midi station is a major hub for international trains with Eurostar services to London, Paris, Cologne and Amsterdam. There are TGV services to France and ICE services to Germany.

Brussels Zuid/Midi is perhaps not the nicest of Europe’s stations with the main concourse hall being a large tunnel-like passageway. Train platforms are on the upper level – platform 15 is often used for the Eurocity. There are a number of shops and food outlets around.

What are the other options for Amsterdam-Brussels rail travel?

The similarly named Eurocity Direct runs 16x daily between Amsterdam Zuid and Brussels Zuid/Midi via Rotterdam and Antwerp. This is also jointly run by NS International and NMBS/SNCB using new generation Dutch Intercity trains.

One-way saver fares for Rotterdam-Brussels start at €20 with a journey time of 1 hour 30 mins. The trains are very comfortable with free WiFi, luggage racks and accessible boarding.

Note, EuroCity tickets are not valid for travel on the Eurocity Direct. Likewise, Eurocity Direct tickets cannot be used on the EuroCity!

Eurostar (formerly Thalys) runs a high-speed train service between Amsterdam Centraal and Brussels Zuid/Midi up to 14x daily. The Eurostar stops at Schiphol airport, Rotterdam and Antwerp – from Brussels it continues on to Paris Nord.

At around 1 hour 8 mins this is the fastest way to travel between Rotterdam and Brussels.

With its allocated seating, Eurostar fares can be significantly more expensive than Eurocity (Direct), especially closer to departure.

For Rotterdam-Brussels fares range as follows: €29-€85 (Standard – 2nd class), €55-109 (Plus – 1st class seat-only) and €99-€129 (Premier – 1st class seat and food).

For more see Amsterdam-Brussels travel options

Rotterdam-Brussels Eurocity : Summary

The Rotterdam-Brussels Eurocity service provides a reasonably comfortable and good value way to travel between these cities. Book in advance to get the lowest saver fares – or choose the flex fare which is always available.

With children travelling for free it is an excellent option for family groups.

To sum up the Eurocity service:

Book with NS International site or the Trainline site

The Brussels Card is a convenient 1-3 day card offering unlimited access to the city’s public transport plus and free entry to over 49 attractions.

The I Amsterdam City Card (1-5 days) offers free entry and discounts to numerous Amsterdam museums and attractions. It also includes a free public transport pass, a canal cruise and bike rental as well. You can order your I Amsterdam City Card online here

Sources: our own trips have provided the main context in addition to info from NS and NMBS/SNCB.

This article was originally published on 7 October 2026.

Links on AmsterdamTips.com may pay us an affiliate commission.

The post Rotterdam to Brussels by Eurocity train (Complete Guide) appeared first on AmsterdamTips.com.

The NS International Lounge is located on platform 2a opposite the station toilets. The location is very convenient for the Eurostar terminal which is a bit further along platform 2.

To reach the lounge you need to be on departures side beyond the gate barriers. Access is made by taking the platform 2 stairs/escalators/lift from the tunnel; or from the main station hall take the stairs/escalators/lift between the Albert Heijn supermarket and ‘Service Center’.

There is a reception desk just after the entrance where a staff member will check your access rights.

This is a very compact, rectangular shaped lounge with 2 low-sitting L-shaped red sofas and 3 single chairs. In terms of workspace there is 1 worktable, 1 reading table with some magazines and 2 semi-private white ‘thinkpod’ desks. Power outlets and free WiFi are available.

There are TV screens showing train departure times and often a news channel. The Rotterdam lounge has a feature wall with a black and white photo of the city’s Erasmus bridge spanning the Nieuwe Maas river.

There are further meeting rooms available for hire if more privacy is needed.

The lounge offers hot drinks with a self-service coffee machine. A fridge stocks a basic selection of soft drinks – lounge access offers only one free soft drink. Beer and wine is offered for sale.

As is common with rail lounges there is no food offering here. However you will find a number of food outlets in the station tunnel under the platforms.

One side of the lounge has floor-to-ceiling windows which look out onto platform 2 – although the view is somewhat constrained by the number of stickers.

The lounge has a single toilet, there are no shower facilities.

Although not luxuriously appointed, the NS International Lounge is a pleasant enough place to grab a hot drink and wait for an international train.

Accessing NS International Lounge Rotterdam

Access is available to rail passengers with the following tickets:

• 1st class international train ticket valid on the day for EuroCity, Eurocity Direct and Eurostar (Plus or Premier) from Rotterdam – plus connections onto ICE or Nightjet (Sleeper class)
• Interrail/Eurail 1st class ticket holders

Access is also available for international train passengers who have the following Railteam memberships:

• Club Eurostar Carte Blanche or Étoile levels (Note: Avantage members no longer get access)
• DB BahnBonus Statuslevel Silber, Gold or Platin (Germany)
• SNCF Grand Voyageur Le Club member (France)
• KlimaTicket Ö with 1st class upgrade (Austria)
• SBB 1st class GA Travelcard (Switzerland)

Regus business lounge members can also enter the lounge.

Paid entrance is also available which costs €6 per hour or €15 per day – payment by debit card only.

Opening hours of the NS International Lounge Rotterdam are 07:30-20:00 (Monday to Friday), 10:00-18:00 (Saturday-Sunday). The lounge is closed on Dutch national holidays plus 24 Dec and 31 Dec.

NS International Lounge Rotterdam, platform 2a, Rotterdam Centraal
T: +31(0)88 671 2521

There is also a NS International-Regus Lounge at Amsterdam Centraal

You can book international rail tickets at the Trainline site here, a leading European site which offers payment in 10 different currencies.

You can also make international bookings at the NS International site (payment in euros only).

This article was first published on 16 September 2026.

Links on AmsterdamTips.com may pay us an affiliate commission.

The post NS International Lounge at Rotterdam Centraal – Review appeared first on AmsterdamTips.com.

The Rotterdam Metro is run by Rotterdam municipal city transport company RET (Rotterdamse Elektrische Tram) and RandstadRail. The metro offers an extensive network for travel around the greater Rotterdam area.

The Rotterdam Metro first opened in 1968 and now has 5 lines (A-E) with 70 stations. There are 167 metro vehicles in use including articulated express trams and light rail trains. Line E run by RandstadRail connects Rotterdam and The Hague.

Rotterdam Metro Map

We have developed our own version of the Rotterdam Metro map here which has some places of interest marked including Rotterdam Central Station, Rotterdam-The Hague airport (RTM), Ahoy Rotterdam arena, Feyenoord Stadium and Hoek van Holland ferry port. Our map also feature NS (Dutch Railways) train lines.

The Rotterdam metro and rail map is here:

The Line B extension to Hoek van Holland Haven opened in 2019 and replaced the rail line which was previously serviced by NS Sprinter trains.

A new metro station at Hoek van Holland Strand (beach) opened in 2023. A Stena Line ferry service runs between Hoek van Holland and Harwich in UK.

To get to Rotterdam-The Hague airport from Rotterdam Centraal station you should take RET bus line 33. This bus also serves the nearby Meijersplein station where airport travellers can connect to the metro if needed.

RET Rotterdam Transport Tickets (2026)

There are a number of ticket options for travelling on the Rotterdam metro and transport network.

* valid on all transport in the South-Holland province. It covers travel to/from Alphen aan den Rijn, Delft, Den Haag, Dordrecht, Gouda, Lisse, Leiden, Op Voorne Putten, Rotterdam and Zoetermeer – but not Amsterdam.

Transport providers for the Tourist Day Ticket include Connexxion, EBS, HTM, HTMbuzz, Qbuzz, RET and Waterbus. Not valid on trains.

First published in 2020, last checked and updated 5 January 2026.

Links on AmsterdamTips.com may pay us an affiliate commission.

The post Rotterdam Metro Map appeared first on AmsterdamTips.com.

Below we show how to get from Rotterdam airport to either Rotterdam or The Hague (Den Haag) by public transport and then beyond to Amsterdam and elsewhere in the Netherlands.

Rotterdam airport transport options: summary (2026 prices)

1. Local RET bus 33 to Rotterdam Central station (€5.50 single, up to 6x hourly).

2. Local RET bus 33 to Meijersplein then Metro line E to Rotterdam Central, The Hague Central or other Rotterdam metro stations (€5.50 single, up to 6x hourly).

3. Intercity train from Rotterdam to Amsterdam Central (from €20.20 single, €1.60 extra for disposable tickets, run regularly all day).

‘Intercity Direct’ fast train from Rotterdam to Amsterdam Zuid (€18.70 single + supplement €3.20)

4. Intercity train between The Hague Central and Amsterdam Central is cheaper (from €15.30 single, €1.60 extra for disposable tickets). Book refundable Den Haag-Amsterdam train tickets here

5. Rotterdam airport taxi rates: to Rotterdam station €25; to Den Haag €55; to Amsterdam approximately €150. Book a taxi at fixed rate with Sneleentaxi

Let’s take a look at these travel options in more detail with some tips and advice for visitors.

1. Local bus to Rotterdam Central

RET city bus 33 serves Rotterdam The Hague Airport. These electric buses run between Rotterdam Central Station and the nearby Meijersplein metro station, stopping at the airport both ways.

During the day, the buses depart 4x hourly from the airport bus stop – with the destination alternating between Meijersplein and Rotterdam Centraal. In the evenings the bus frequency is reduced to half-hourly.

The service runs from 06:00 weekdays, 07:00 on Saturday and 08:30 Sunday and operates all day until just after midnight.

To get to Rotterdam Central from the airport you have the choice of the 33 bus (a journey of around 20 minutes) or taking the 33 bus to Meijersplein (5 minutes) and then taking line E metro from there to Rotterdam Central (3 stops, 7 minutes) or any other station on the network.

As you come out of the terminal, head left – the airport bus stop is a short walk away. At the bus stop there is a RET ticket machine which sell a variety of RET tickets – coins, debit and credit cards are accepted.

For the Rotterdam airport to Rotterdam Central journey we would advise most visitors to keep it simple and just buy a standard single ticket.

The “RET 2 hour” ticket costs €5.50 and can be purchased from the ticket machine. Children 0-3 travel free.

Here are other ticket options:

• Using an OV-chipkaart (public transport smart card) by checking-in and -out using the card readers on the bus. The distance fare (roughly €2.37) will be charged. We don’t recommend the OV-chipkaart to short-term visitors as it costs €7.50 to purchase before credit is added.
• Using OVpay – checking-in and -out with a bank card or other contactless payment. The standard distance fare will be charged.
• An RET 1 day ticket costs €12.00 (Book RET day tickets here) and a RET child 4-11 day ticket costs €6.00.
• A Tourist Day Ticket (€17.50) is valid for 1 day’s travel in South Holland province on RET Rotterdam, HTM The Hague, Connexxion, EBS and Syntus. It’s not valid on trains.

On board the RET airport bus has reasonable space to fit passenger luggage.

The 33 bus arrives at the bus terminus near Rotterdam Central station.

2. Bus + Metro to Rotterdam or Den Haag (The Hague)

To connect onto the metro, take the RET bus 33 to the nearby Meijersplein metro station – this takes about 5 minutes. The bus stop is directly outside the metro station.

From there you can take the RET metro (E line) operated by RandstadRail which runs between Slinge and Den Haag Central via Rotterdam Central. See our Rotterdam metro map for more details – the airport is marked.

The standard RET 2 hour ticket (€5.50) can get you from the airport to any station on the network. You need to hold your ticket against the gate barriers to enter to the metro station platforms.

If going towards Rotterdam then go up to platform 2 (the nearest one). The trip to Rotterdam Central is just 3 stops and takes 7 minutes.

For direction Den Haag go to the other side (platform 1). The trip to Den Haag Central takes 25 minutes and is the 11th and last stop. The total travel time from the airport to Den Haag is about 45 minutes.

The line E metro train runs every 10 minutes.

Check out our visitors guide to Den Haag here

3. Trains from Rotterdam Central to Amsterdam

NS trains run regularly between Rotterdam Central and Amsterdam Central stations.

There is also a fast domestic train called Intercity Direct takes just 40 minutes and runs 4x hourly on a dedicated high speed track to Schiphol Airport and then onto Amsterdam Zuid (not Amsterdam Central).

Supplements for the Rotterdam-Schiphol sector are mandatory for travel on the Intercity Direct train.

The Intercity train to Amsterdam Central which travels to Schiedam, Delft, Den Haag HS, Leiden, Haarlem and Amsterdam Sloterdijk. The journey times is just under 1 hour 15 minutes with departures every 15 minutes.

There is also a Sprinter stopping train service (direction Uitgeest, 2x hourly) which runs via Gouda and stops at Amsterdam Bijlmer-ArenA, Amsterdam Amstel and Amsterdam Central. Travel time is only a little more than the Intercity.

The OV-chip card system is also used on Dutch railways and you will need to check-in and check-out of your journey. You can also use a bank card/contactless payment (OVpay).

The standard one-way fare from Rotterdam Central to Amsterdam Central costs €20.20 (2nd class) or €36.36 (1st class). There is a €1.60 surcharge for buying a disposable ticket.

The standard one-way fare from Rotterdam Central to Amsterdam Zuid costs €18.70 (2nd class) or €33.66 (1st class). There is a mandatory €3.20 supplement for travel by Intercity Direct.

Children 4-11 only pay €2.50 each for a Railrunner ticket which is valid the whole day on the Dutch rail network including Intercity Direct trains. Children 0-3 travel free.

You can buy disposable train tickets and Intercity Direct supplements at the station Tickets & Service desks (inside the ‘Service Center’) or at the yellow and blue ticket machines.

Both accept debit/credit cards (V-Pay, Maestro, Mastercard, Visa and American Express) using pin and/or contactless. If you want to pay by cash go to the service desks as the machines only accept euro coins.

For speed and comfort it is well worth paying the Intercity Direct supplement – especially if you have large suitcases. Intercity Direct trains have decent overhead storage racks. Standard double-decker Intercity trains have stairs to navigate and tiny racks (or no racks) – though some space for luggage can be found under the seats.

For night owls, an hourly night train (01:00-05:00) runs both ways between Rotterdam and Amsterdam.

Amsterdam to Rotterdam return trip: Just do the journey in reverse – train from Amsterdam Central to Rotterdam, then walk out to the bus station to get RET bus 33 back to the airport. Or get a metro to Meijersplein and then the bus to Rotterdam airport.

Amsterdam Central is the transport hub of Amsterdam – see Amsterdam Transport Tickets for cost-effective public transport options in the city.

If travelling elsewhere in the Netherlands there are direct trains from Rotterdam to Amersfoort, Breda, Dordrecht, Eindhoven, Groningen, Leeuwarden, Leiden, Utrecht, Venlo and Vlissingen.

International trains include the Eurostar (blue trains) to Brussels and London, Eurostar (red trains, formerly Thalys) to Antwerp, Brussels and Paris and the Intercity Brussels to Antwerp and Brussels.

4. Trains from Den Haag Central to Amsterdam

Because Den Haag is slightly nearer to Amsterdam, it is actually cheaper to travel by rail to Amsterdam Central from Den Haag Central rather than from Rotterdam Central.

You arrive with metro line E at Den Haag Central station and then need to go downstairs to the main railway station.

The standard one-way fare from Den Haag Central to Amsterdam Central costs €15.30 (2nd class) or €27.54 (1st class) – plus the €1.60 surcharge for buying a disposable ticket.

You can purchase fully refundable Den Haag-Amsterdam train e-tickets here.

The Intercity train takes about 50 minutes and runs every half hour.

5. Taxis from Rotterdam The Hague Airport

Taxis are available directly outside the airport building.

From Rotterdam The Hague airport expect to pay about €20-€25 (central Rotterdam), €35 (Rotterdam Alexander), €55 (The Hague), €100 (Rotterdam Europoort), €125 (Schiphol) and €150 (Amsterdam). Note, Uber is present in Amsterdam.

Sneleentaxi offers slightly cheaper fixed fares to/from Rotterdam airport to Rotterdam, Amsterdam or any destination in the Netherlands. Book a taxi at fixed rate with Sneleentaxi

The airport also has desks from many major car rental companies. If you need to hire a car in advance from Rotterdam, you can book with Discover Cars here which checks all the main sites.

This article was first published in 2010 and has been continuously updated since then. Last update 5 January 2026.

Links on AmsterdamTips.com may pay us an affiliate commission.

The post Rotterdam The Hague Airport to Amsterdam appeared first on AmsterdamTips.com.