Amsterdam to Brussels travel is possible by high-speed trains, plane or coach as well as car.
Brussels is the capital of Belgium and a principal European political centre – located around 200km from Dutch capital Amsterdam.
Amsterdam to Brussels travel overview |
[1] Amsterdam to Brussels by Train
Taking the train is certainly the best option to travel Amsterdam-Brussels or Brussels-Amsterdam. This is our recommended choice when considering a combination of price, travel time, city centre convenience and luggage allowance.
Amsterdam-Brussels tickets can be easily booked at the Trainline site here (multi-currencies) or at the local NS International site (euros).
One-way prices start at €29 (2nd class), €79 (1st class seat) or €109 (1st class seat+meal) on Eurostar (formerly Thalys) and from €25 (2nd class) and €50 (1st class) on Eurocity Direct.
1a. Amsterdam-Brussels by Eurostar
The high speed Eurostar service runs from Amsterdam Central station to Paris Gare du Nord via Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, Rotterdam Central, Antwerp Central and Brussels Zuid/Midi.
Eurostar runs up to 14x daily on the Amsterdam-Brussels route and the journey takes 1 hour 56 mins. See our full guide to the Eurostar (former Thalys) train
Eurostar Train – Travel Classes
There are 3 classes of travel on the Eurostar: Standard, Plus and Premier.
On top of this there are 2 types of trains – the classic TGV unit and the newer ‘Ruby’ type trainsets with refurbished seating and interiors.
Eurostar Standard
- Standard is 2nd class seating (2-2 configuration)
- Food/drink can be purchased at the Eurostar Café bar or kiosk
- Free WiFi is available and seats have EU power outlets
- Standard fares cost €29-€95 for Amsterdam-Brussels – cheapest available class
- Exchangeable up to 1 hour before departure (just pay the fare difference)
- Refundable up to 7 days before departure for €25/£25/$40
Eurostar Plus
- Plus is 1st class seating only (2-1 configuration)
- Food/drink can be purchased at the Eurostar Café bar or kiosk
- Free WiFi is available and seats have EU power outlets
- Plus fares cost €79-€119 for Amsterdam-Brussels
- Exchangeable up to 1 hour before departure (just pay the fare difference)
- Refundable up to 7 days before departure for €25/£25/$40
Eurostar Premier
- Premier is 1st class seating (2-1 configuration)
- Gourmet meal and drinks (including champagne) served at your seat
- Free WiFi is available and seats have EU power outlets
- Premier fares cost €109-€139 for Amsterdam-Brussels
- Exchangeable/refundable up to 48 hours after departure (no fee, just pay the fare difference)
- Lounge access available at Amsterdam Centraal (NS International lounge) and Brussel Zuid/Midi (Eurostar Premier lounge)
What is the luggage allowance on Eurostar for Amsterdam-Brussels?
A great advantage of travelling by Eurostar train is that (unlike flying) you will not need to pay extra for bringing standard sized suitcases.
- Eurostar Standard and Plus fares permit 2 pieces of luggage (max 75cm long) plus 1 small daypack/handbag
- Eurostar Premier permits 3 pieces of luggage (max 75cm long) plus 1 small daypack/handbag.
- Children can bring 1 piece of luggage and 1 piece of hand luggage
- Pushchairs (strollers) and prams travel for free but must be folded away and stowed safely
There are no weight limits for luggage – however you must be able to carry them safely on and off the train.
Store them on the overhead luggage racks or at the special racks at each end of the carriage. You cannot block the aisles with any items.
Who can get discounted travel on Eurostar?
Various age groups can get cheaper fares on Eurostar’s European routes:
- Children 0-3 travel free but do not get a seat assignment – they must sit on an adult’s lap
- Children 0-11 get up to 50% discount off Standard and Plus fares (no Premier class discounts)
- Youths age 12-25 get up to 20% off Standard and 15% off Plus and Premier fares, subject to availability
- Seniors age 60+ get 10% off all fares, subject to availability
- Interrail/Eurail pass-holders pay fees of €22 (Standard) and €27 (Plus) for Amsterdam-Brussels Eurostar travel
Eurostar tickets are released for sale up to 6 months out – to secure the cheapest fares you should book as early as possible.
| TIP: If travelling at short notice, the fare difference between classes can be minimal – it may be worth booking the Plus or Premier fares in that case. |
Example (a few days from travel):
In this case there is only €4 difference upgrading a Standard fare to a Plus fare. Or an extra €30 to book the Premier fare (fully refundable, lounge access, 1st class seat, meal and drink).
| TIP: The last Eurostar of the day out of Amsterdam (departing 20:10 or 21:10) can often have cheaper availability even at the last minute. |
Eurostar tickets have a specific seat reservation included in the price. Your ticket will show the carriage and seat number.
To sum up the Eurostar service between Amsterdam and Brussels:
- Fastest journey time
- Includes free seat reservation
- Includes free luggage allowance
- Lowest Standard fares are good value
- Catering available
- More expensive than Eurocity Direct
- Popular – so trains can sell out
Book your Eurostar tickets with Trainline here
Book your Eurostar tickets with NS International here
1b. Amsterdam-Brussels by Eurocity Direct
The Eurocity Direct train runs between Amsterdam Zuid station and Brussels Zuid/Midi station. It was introduced in December 2024 and replaced the old Intercity Brussels service.
There is also a more basic Eurocity service which runs between Rotterdam and Brussels. Both services are a joint venture between NS Dutch Railways and SNCB Belgian Railways.
The Eurocity Direct uses Dutch Intercity New Generation trains and uses the high-speed track running at up to 200km/h.
The Eurocity Direct service originates from Lelystad Centrum and Almere before stopping at Amsterdam Zuid station (not Amsterdam Centraal). It continues to Schiphol Airport, Rotterdam Centraal and Antwerp Centraal before terminating at Brussels Zuid/Midi station.
- The Eurocity Direct Amsterdam-Brussels journey takes 2 hours 8 mins – only slightly slower than Eurostar
- Eurocity Direct runs 16x daily
The Eurocity is a slower stopping service running 16x daily between Rotterdam Centraal and Brussels Zuid Midi using Belgian Intercity stock. It is slightly cheaper than the Eurocity Direct (but does not serve Amsterdam).
The Eurocity stops at Breda, Noorderkempen (Belgium), Antwerp Central, Antwerp Berchem, Mechelen, Brussels Airport, Brussels North and Brussels Central.
Eurocity Direct tickets are either 1st class (2-1 seating configuration) or 2nd class (2-2 configuration). There is no assigned seating – just find any available free seat.
Here are some features of the Eurocity Direct trains:
- Low-level wide-entry doors allow for easy boarding
- Overhead luggage racks can accommodate small and medium size bags
- There are also some larger luggage racks spaced at various points
- Free WiFi is available at to all passengers
- European power outlets and USB ports are found between each seat pair
Eurocity Direct Fares for Amsterdam-Brussels
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
- Amsterdam-Brussels one-way saver fares start at €25 (2nd class) and €50 (1st class)
- 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
Flex Fares
- Full-flex fares are valid on any departure for a particular day
- Amsterdam-Brussels one-way flex fares (2026) are €65.80 (2nd class) and €99.30 (1st class)
- Freely changeable and cancellable up to 1 day before departure
Up to 4 children aged 4-11 can get added for free with an adult Eurocity Direct ticket when booking online.
| TIP: The Amsterdam-Brussels trains are popular, especially at peak times. Consider buying a 1st class ticket for a smoother boarding experience and more seat availability |
To sum up the Eurocity Direct service between Amsterdam and Brussels:
- Cheaper than Eurostar
- ‘Walk-up’ full-flex fare is always available
- No guaranteed seat reservation – can get busy
- No catering on board
Book Eurocity Direct/Eurocity tickets with NS International here
Book Eurocity Direct/Eurocity tickets with Trainline here
You have the option to book directly from “Amsterdam Zuid” in which case you need to make your own way to the station.
If booking from “Amsterdam Centraal” you will see more expensive Eurostar options (Amsterdam-Brussels) or it will give you the choice to travel by NS train to Schiphol Airport and pick up the Eurocity Direct from there.
[2] Amsterdam-Brussels by Coach
The coach is the cheapest travel option between Amsterdam and Brussels with a journey time of around 3 hours
- BlaBlaCar Bus and Flixbus operate multiple Amsterdam-Brussels coach services daily
- The main coach stop in Amsterdam is at Amsterdam Sloterdijk station
- Flixbus stop is at Brussels Noord
- BlaBlaCar Bus stops at Brussels Zuid/Midi station
- Fares start at €9 one-way
- Both companies allow 1 checked bag which is stowed in the luggage compartment
- Flixbus allows 1 item of small hand baggage (BlaBlaCar 2 items)
For more on travel to Belgium see Amsterdam-Antwerp travel options and Amsterdam to Bruges or Ghent
[3] Amsterdam-Brussels Flights
It is possible to fly between Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) and Brussels Zaventem (BRU) airport.
Although the flying time is very short at around 45 minutes, when you account for transfers to/from the airports, security and boarding queues then the train is undoubtedly the cheaper, quicker and more convenient city-to-city option.
- KLM (Skyteam) operates up to 4x daily Amsterdam-Brussels flights with Cityhopper-branded Embraer 175/190 jets
- One way fares start at €196 (Light fare, hand-baggage only) and from €233 (Standard fare, checked bag)
The reality is this flight route is mainly aimed at transfer passengers on longer-haul routes.
There are train stations at Schiphol and Brussels airports which can get you to the centre of town in 15-20 minutes. The Brussels airport train to central Brussels runs up to 4x hourly. Buy Brussels airport train return tickets in advance here
Amsterdam Resources
Looking for a convenient hotel near Amsterdam Central station? Check out the stylish Kimpton-De Witt which is a short walk from the station. For those on a budget the Ibis Amsterdam Centre is literally on top of the western edge of the station platforms.
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
Brussels Resources
Are you looking for a hotel in Brussels? Book here with Booking.com
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.
As Belgium and the Netherlands are members of the Schengen Zone agreement you do not normally need to go through a passport control check when travelling between Amsterdam and Brussels.
We have made the Amsterdam-Brussels journey multiple times by all modes of transport mentioned.
This article was originally published in 2010. Last checked and updated 16 January 2026.
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