Düsseldorf is one of Germany’s major cities and is the capital of the North Rhine-Westphalia region. It is located approximately 200km south-east from Amsterdam.
Are you looking to travel between Amsterdam and Dusseldorf? Let’s consider the transport options between the 2 cities by train, air and bus.
1. Amsterdam-Dusseldorf by Train (recommended)
Undoubtedly the best way to travel between Amsterdam and Dusseldorf is by rail. This gives you centre-to-centre convenience, no check-in or security lines and a regular direct train service. It can be easily booked via the NS International site with prices starting at just €19 one-way.
Modern ICE International trains (ICE3 variants) run up to 6x daily from Amsterdam Central Station to Dusseldorf Hauptbahnhof (Hbf). The journey takes just 2 hours 11 minutes. The train is jointly operated by DB (German Railways) and NS (Dutch Railways).
The ICE train makes stops in Utrecht and Arnhem in the Netherlands then crosses the Dutch-German border at Emmerich. On the German side it stops at Oberhausen and Duisburg before arriving at Dusseldorf. It continues onward to Cologne (Köln) and Frankfurt.
The cheapest one-way ticket price for Amsterdam-Dusseldorf in 2nd class for the trip is just €19. This is the Supersparpreis Europa fare which is only valid on the particular departure time selected and is non-changeable/non-refundable. It can be easily found if booking 2-6 months in advance.
There are more flexible fares available. The Sparpreis Europa fare from €23 one-way is changeable/refundable for a fee and includes a City ticket for Dusseldorf public transport. The fully-flexible Flexpreis fare starts from €62 one-way and also includes the City ticket component.
1st class Amsterdam-Dusseldorf one-way fares start from €34 (non-changeable), €38 (changeable/refundable for a fee) and €99 (full-flex), respectively.
2nd class fares do not include a reserved seat on the ICE. You can reserve a seat for €4 per person for each one-way trip. It is not obligatory to make a seat reservation, however it can be worthwhile if the train is busy. Seats are in a 2-2 configuration.
1st class fares include seat reservation as standard, with seating in a 1-2 configuration.
The ICE trains have a Bordbistro restaurant-bar carriage serving hot meals at extra charge. 1st class passengers can order and get served at their seats.
With reasonable prices, a quick journey time, comfort and convenience we highly recommend the ICE train for travel between Amsterdam and Dusseldorf.
How to book online: Amsterdam-Dusseldorf train tickets can easily be booked at the NS International site. By booking online you avoid any booking fees charged at the international service desks at stations.
When searching for trains be aware that there are also the following journey options: Amsterdam-Arnhem-Dusseldorf and Amsterdam-Utrecht-Venlo-Dusseldorf using Intercity trains. Try sticking with the direct ICE trains which require no changes.
2. Amsterdam-Dusseldorf by Air
Dutch national carrier KLM (Skyteam alliance) is the only airline that serves Amsterdam Schiphol airport (AMS) and Düsseldorf Airport (DUS) with direct non-stop flights.
KLM flies a Cityhopper-branded service between Amsterdam and Dusseldorf up to 4x daily using Embraer 175/190 jets. The flight time is just under 1 hour.
Prices start from around €130 return not including checked luggage if booking in advance.
Both airports have good public transport connections to reach the city centre.
3. Amsterdam-Dusseldorf by Coach
German coach company Flixbus normally operates up to 7x direct coach services daily from Amsterdam Sloterdijk to Dusseldorf. The coach stop in Dusseldorf is at Worringer Strasse near Dusseldorf Hauptbahnhof. The journey takes around 3 hours.
One way Flixbus fares for Amsterdam-Dusseldorf start from around €12.
Czech bus operator RegioJet has a daily bus service between Amsterdam Sloterdijk and Prague which makes a stop at Cologne-Bonn airport. The journey time is around 5 hours and one-way fares start at €14.
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 Iamsterdam 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 Iamsterdam City Card online here
Dusseldorf Resources
In Dusseldorf you can book your hotel with Booking.com here. For a selection of tours and attractions in Dusseldorf book with GetYourGuide here
This article was originally published in 2019, last update 2 June 2022.
