The Grand-Place in Brussels, a short walk from Bruxelles-Midi, where trains from Amsterdam arrive.
Photo: KoS / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)Amsterdam to Brussels by Train
An international route between Netherlands and Belgium.
Reviewed by Eurotraintrip on 2026-07-30
- Duration
- 1h 50m – 2h 15m
- Price from
- 25 EUR
- Distance
- 175 km
- Operators
- EurostarNS International (EuroCity Direct)
- Frequency
- Eurostar runs up to around 12-14 direct high-speed trains a day from Amsterdam Centraal into Bruxelles-Midi; NS International's EuroCity Direct adds up to 16 more daily departures from Amsterdam Zuid, together totalling up to around 32 trains a day since capacity doubled in December 2024
Compare and book Amsterdam–Brussels tickets
Check pricesWhat makes Amsterdam to Brussels different
- The previous attempt at fast Amsterdam-Brussels service ended badly: Fyra, a joint NS/NMBS operation using Italian-built AnsaldoBreda V250 trains, launched in December 2012 and was withdrawn after only about six weeks following serious technical failures - part of why NS took a decade-long, cautious path before trying an international fast service again.
- The dedicated Dutch high-speed line this corridor depends on, HSL-Zuid, didn't open until 7 September 2009 - two years behind its original 2007 target.
- EuroCity Direct's ICNG trains - eight-car, 410-seat Alstom-built sets - first entered service on ordinary Dutch domestic Intercity routes in 2023, more than a year before NS adapted them for this specific international corridor in December 2024.
Amsterdam station
Two different trains for Brussels leave from two different Amsterdam stations: Eurostar from Amsterdam Centraal - Pierre Cuypers' 1889 red-brick station - and NS International's EuroCity Direct from Amsterdam Zuid, a 1978-built station in the glass-tower Zuidas business district currently being rebuilt as part of the EUR1.9bn Zuidasdok project.
Brussels station
Both Eurostar and EuroCity Direct trains from Amsterdam arrive at Bruxelles-Midi's international platforms; from there, Bruxelles-Central is just one stop away on Belgium's domestic network.
Train vs. other options
There's no viable flight route over just 175km, and with up to around 32 daily trains between the two cities combined across Eurostar and EuroCity Direct since capacity doubled in December 2024, driving the E19 motorway - about 2 hours in light traffic - is really the train's only competition on this corridor.
Booking tips
- Compare both operators before booking: Eurostar is faster into Bruxelles-Midi at around 1h50m from Amsterdam Centraal, while NS International's EuroCity Direct takes closer to 2h07m on weekdays from Amsterdam Zuid but is typically the cheaper option and doesn't require a seat reservation.
- If you're departing from Amsterdam Zuid on EuroCity Direct, build in extra time while the Zuidasdok construction project is under way - signage and station entrances around the site have shifted more than once during the works.
- Eurostar's advance Standard fares are released furthest ahead and are cheapest for Tuesday-Thursday travel; EuroCity Direct's simpler fare structure means the day-of-week price gap is smaller on that service.
Good to know: Amsterdam Zuid, EuroCity Direct's departure point, sits in the middle of the multi-year Zuidasdok project (about EUR1.9bn to bury the A10 motorway beneath the station) - expect signage, entrances and platform access to keep shifting during the works, and allow extra time compared with the more settled Amsterdam Centraal, where Eurostar departs instead.
While you're in Brussels
The Brussels Town Hall on the Grand-Place, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1998.
Photo: VitVit / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)Brussels centers on the gilded Grand-Place, a UNESCO World Heritage square since 1998, with the city's real specialties - fries twice-fried in a paper cone, dense Liege waffles, and six of the world's ten official Trappist breweries - a short walk in any direction.
Full Brussels travel guide →Frequently asked questions
How long is the train from Amsterdam to Brussels?
Eurostar's fastest direct services take around 1h50m-1h52m from Amsterdam Centraal. NS International's EuroCity Direct takes about 2h07m (2h on weekends) from Amsterdam Zuid instead.
Which Amsterdam station should I leave from?
It depends on the operator: Eurostar departs Amsterdam Centraal, in the historic center; NS International's EuroCity Direct departs Amsterdam Zuid, a business district a metro or tram ride away.
What happened to the Fyra train that used to run this route?
Fyra, a joint NS/NMBS high-speed service, launched in December 2012 and was pulled after about six weeks due to serious technical problems. Today's Eurostar and EuroCity Direct services replaced the older Beneluxtrein only from December 2024.