How to Get to Amsterdam from Brussels

There are a wide variety of options for getting from Brussels to Amsterdam, from the conventional options of train, bus, car or plane, to cycling, private transfer or hitchhiking.

Being in these two cities is a delight. Amsterdam's s ights include canals, bicycles and art houses, while Brussels is notable for its grand architecture, iconic breweries and well-kept statues.

One of the best ways to get to Amsterdam from Brussels is to book your organised walking tour. You won't have to worry about timetables, variable fares and other details, and you'll be able to enjoy all the original things to do in Amsterdam at your leisure.

Guided tours usually allow you to discover Dam Square, the Royal Palace, the Nieuwe Kerk, the Red Light District, the Anne Frank House Museum, the old Jewish quarter and even see some of the city's best museums from the outside.

In addition to the guided tour, these tours usually include a few hours to explore the city at your leisure or have a drink in a café.

• Duration: 8am to 8:30pm
• Meeting point: Brussels city centre
• End oftour: Amsterdam Central Station
• Price: From 60€.
• Recommended if... You are looking to see and explore the highlights of Amsterdam, you have little time and you want to end the day in Brussels.

The train is a fast and comfortable way to travel between Brussels and Amsterdam. There are frequent connections between these two capitals, almost every 1 to 2 hours.

Unfortunately, tickets are not the cheapest, but you can easily buy them online on the Belgian and Dutchtrain websites orat the train station itself.

• Duration: just under 3 hours for the longest journey.
• Price: between €26 and €48, varying according to dates, routes, and how far in advance you book.
• Recommended if... You are looking for comfort, speed and an affordable price.

Where are the train departure and arrival stations?

All trains depart from Brussels-Midi station and arrive at Amsterdam Central Station, located in the city centre.

When is the first and last train from Brussels to Amsterdam?

The first train leaves the station at 5:45 am, while the last train leaves at 8:55 pm. However, train times may change between weekdays and weekends.

For more information on timetables visit the following website.

There are frequent bus connections between Brussels and Amsterdam; however, some connections, although direct, can take much longer than others, so allow for the time factor.

The main company operating this route is Flixbus, which is also the fastest.

• Duration: between 2 hours 50 minutes and 3 hours 50 minutes.
• Price: from €9. The price depends on the time of departure and how far in advance you buy your ticket.
• Recommended if... You are looking for the cheapest option.

Where are the departure and arrival bus stations?

If you board a Flixbus bus, the departure station is Brussels-North, while it is Midi for e.g. BlaBlaBus.

As for the arrival, most buses stop at Amsterdam Sloterdijk, Amsterdam Bijlmer and Schiphol Airport.

When does the first and last bus from Brussels to Amsterdam leave?

The first bus leaves Brussels at 7 am, while the last bus leaves the station at 7:15 pm. Please note that the timetable may change depending on the date of travel.

You can check the latest timetable here.

Although Brussels and Amsterdam are just over 200 km apart, there are direct flights between the two capitals. KLM connects the cities 5 times a day with a flight time of just under 1 hour.

This is a good option for you if you are one of those who enjoy flying and love to walk around airports, as Amsterdam airport is one of the best in Europe.

If you go for this option, I recommend this post about airport transfers to Amsterdam.

• Duration: less than an hour
• Price: between €50 and €100, depending on how far in advance you buy your ticket.
• Recommended if... You want to arrive as soon as possible,

Car sharing is a very popular way to travel around Europe, but the route from Brussels to Amsterdam is not one of the most popular for this form of transport.

If you are still interested in travelling this way between Brussels and Amsterdam, I recommend you visit the BlaBlaCar website and search for rides there.

• Duration: between 2.5 and 3 hours.
• Price: around €15
• Recommended if: you are looking for a quick and cheap option.

For a comfortable, quick and hassle-free journey, you can book a private transfer from Brussels to Amsterdam. It's not a cheap trip and the car usually seats 4 people, but I think the advantages are obvious.

• Duration: Less than 3 hours.
• Price: around 250 €.
• Recommended if... You are looking for comfort first and foremost.

Brussels and Amsterdam are only 200 km away from each other, so you can get from one capital to the other in just over 2 hours. However, if you choose this route, you are also interested in the area between these two cities, so don't rush. There is a lot to see:

• Leuven: famous for its university and Stella Artois beer.
• Antwerp: in the 15th century it used to be the most important and richest trading city in Europe, these days you can still see many remnants of the golden past.
• Dordrecht: one of the few Dutch cities that can be enjoyed without too many tourists around.
• Kinderdijk: one of the biggest attractions in the Netherlands with 19 windmills built around 1740.

A short stop in Rotterdam before arriving in Amsterdam

Finally, when you arrive in Rotterdam, you may choose to take a short break. While most cities in the region are old, with beautiful monuments, this one is different.

Rotterdam was badly destroyed during World War II and rebuilt in a very modern way. A completely different face of the Netherlands.

There are two ways to get to Amsterdam from Rotterdam. The first is via Delft, The Hague, Leiden and Haarlem and the second via Gouda and Utrecht. No matter which one you choose, they are all beautiful. If you travel to Amsterdam in spring, be sure to stop at the Keukenhof botanical garden to admire the beautiful tulips.

• Duration: 2 hours
• Price: approximately €60.
• Recommended if... You're looking to plan your itinerary without being dependent on public transport timetables or want to make stops along the way.

Hitchhiking is a fun way to travel from Brussels to Amsterdam and, if you're lucky, you might not wait that long.

First you have to go to Antwerpelaan, from where the cars go to the north of Belgium and the Netherlands. To get there, take tram no. 3, 9 or 23 to De Wand. At this point you will have to walk a little further, and that's it.

You may be lucky to get a ride to Amsterdam, but you can also shorten the distance by going to other places closer to Amsterdam, such as Antwerp or Rotterdam. In the reverse direction, from Amsterdam to Brussels, the best place to try your luck is in Utrechtsebrug.

• Duration: 2 hours
• Price: Free of charge
• Recommended if... You like adventures and are looking for an experience rather than a trip.

Remember that both the Netherlands and Belgium are countries where cycling is very routine. That's why for many it's not such a bad decision to cycle from one capital to the other. That's also why you'll find great trails for most of your trip.

Cycling from Brussels to Amsterdam is an experience. There are several interesting places where you can stop along the way, and you can even make detours such as following the North Sea coast.

• Duration: 2 days
• Price: 12€.
• Recommended if... You like sport and want to enjoy the scenery from a closer angle.