You're standing in the middle of Amsterdam Centraal. It’s loud. There’s a faint smell of fried dough and damp canal water. You’ve got a suitcase in one hand and a phone in the other, trying to figure out why on earth there are three different prices for the exact same trip. Honestly, taking the train from Amsterdam to Brussels should be the easiest thing you do in Europe. It's a straight shot south. No mountains, no complicated transfers, just 125 miles of flat, rainy Low Country.
But people mess this up. All the time.
They buy the wrong ticket. They show up at the wrong platform because they didn't realize there are two distinct types of "fast" trains. They spend $100 when they could have spent $25. Or, worse, they book a seat on a train that doesn't actually guarantee them a place to sit. It’s a mess if you don't know the rhythm of the NS (Dutch Railways) and SNCB (Belgian Railways) systems.
The Two-Train Dilemma: Eurostar vs. InterCity
Here is the thing most blogs won't tell you straight: You aren't just picking a time; you're picking a lifestyle.
First, you have the Eurostar. You probably remember this used to be called Thalys before the big merger. This is the red train. It’s sleek. It’s fast. It hits speeds of 300 km/h (about 186 mph) once it clears the Dutch suburbs. If you take this, you are in Brussels Midi in 1 hour and 53 minutes. But there's a catch. You have to book a specific seat. If you miss that train, your ticket is basically a very expensive piece of digital confetti.
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Then there’s the InterCity Brussels (often called the Benelux train). It’s yellow and blue. It’s slower. Much slower. We’re talking 2 hours and 45 minutes on a good day. It stops everywhere. Schiphol, Rotterdam, Antwerp, Mechelen—you name it, this train visits it.
Why would anyone take the slow one? Flexibility.
With an InterCity ticket, you just show up. You don't have a reserved seat. You hop on whenever you're done with your bitterballen and beer in Amsterdam. If you miss the 10:00 AM, you catch the 11:00 AM. No stress. No rebooking fees. For a lot of travelers, that lack of "schedule anxiety" is worth the extra 50 minutes of staring at cows in a Dutch field.
What Nobody Tells You About Brussels Midi Station
You arrive. You’re excited. You step off the train and... oh.
Brussels Midi (Brussel-Zuid) is not the "Grand Place" chocolate-box version of Belgium you see on Instagram. It’s a massive, gritty international hub. It’s functional. It’s also slightly confusing because every sign is in both French and Dutch.
If your hotel is in the historic center, you aren't actually at your destination yet. You need to get to Brussels Central.
Don’t buy a new ticket. Seriously. If you have an international ticket for the train from Amsterdam to Brussels, it usually covers the "Brussels Zone." This means you can hop on any local SNCB train heading toward "Centraal" or "Nord" for free. It’s a three-minute ride. Don't be the person standing in line at a kiosk at Midi for a 2-euro ticket you already own.
The Pricing Game Is Rigged (But You Can Win)
Let's talk money.
Eurostar uses "dynamic pricing." It's just like an airline. If you book four months out, you might snag a seat for €29. If you try to buy it at the station twenty minutes before departure, you might be looking at €110. It’s brutal.
The InterCity is different. It has a "fixed" maximum price, but even that has nuances. If you’re under 26, you should be looking at the Youth Ticket. If you're traveling on a weekend, there’s often a "Weekend Return" discount that cuts the price nearly in half, though that’s usually for trips starting in Belgium.
A pro tip that local commuters use: Check the NS International website versus the SNCB International website. Sometimes, due to currency fluctuations or specific regional promos, one is five euros cheaper than the other for the exact same carriage. It’s rare, but it happens.
Classes of Service: Is First Class a Scam?
On the Eurostar? Maybe not. You get more legroom, a meal served at your seat (in Premier), and a much quieter environment. If you're working, the upgrade is genuinely nice.
On the InterCity? It’s almost never worth it. 1st Class on the Dutch/Belgian IC trains just means the seats are a different color and there are slightly fewer people. But since these trains are rarely "packed" to the point of standing room only outside of rush hour, paying an extra €20 to sit on red fabric instead of blue fabric feels like a loss.
The "Secret" Route via Roosendaal
Sometimes, everything goes wrong. A strike happens in Belgium. Or a wire goes down near Rotterdam.
When the main high-speed line breaks, the "regular" train from Amsterdam to Brussels gets diverted or cancelled. Most tourists just sit on the floor and cry. Don't do that.
There is a regional backup plan. You take a local Dutch train to Roosendaal. From Roosendaal, a little Belgian "local" train chugs across the border to Antwerp. From Antwerp, you can get anywhere. It’s slow. It’s definitely not "express." But it moves when the fancy trains don't. Knowing this exists is the difference between making your dinner reservation in Brussels and sleeping on a bench in the Hague.
Navigating the Platforms
Amsterdam Centraal is a through-station, but it’s divided into "a" and "b" sections. This is vital.
Track 15a and 15b are on the same physical platform, but they are miles apart. If your app says "Track 13b," do not just stand at the first 13 sign you see. Look for the arrows. I have seen countless people miss the train from Amsterdam to Brussels because they were standing at 13a while their train was boarding 200 yards away at the other end of the platform.
Also, the Eurostar has a specific boarding procedure. Unlike the InterCity where you just walk on, Eurostar often has a small check-in gate or at least a staff member scanning tickets before you reach the train. It's not "airport security" (unless you're going to London), but you can't just sprint onto the train at the last second. Give yourself ten minutes.
Eating and Connectivity
Don't expect much from the onboard bistro. The Eurostar food is "fine," but the InterCity doesn't even have a trolley anymore.
Buy your food at Amsterdam Centraal. There’s a Vlaamse Friet place near the back entrance and plenty of AH To Go shops for sandwiches. If you wait until you're on the train, you'll be staring at a vending machine that may or may not accept your credit card.
As for Wi-Fi? It’s spotty. The Dutch side has decent coverage, but there are "dead zones" once you cross the border into the Belgian countryside. If you have an important Zoom call, do it before you leave Amsterdam.
Key Logistics Checklist
- Booking Window: Eurostar opens about 4-6 months in advance. IC trains don't need "booking" but tickets can be bought online to save time.
- Luggage: No weight limits. If you can carry it, you can bring it. Just don't block the aisles; the conductors have zero patience for that.
- Bicycles: You can bring them on the IC train if you buy a bike supplement. On the Eurostar? It’s a nightmare involving disassembly or pre-booking a specific (and rare) spot.
- The "Silent" Car: Look for the "Stilte" signs on Dutch trains. If you talk in here, a local Dutch grandmother will give you a look that will wither your soul.
Final Practical Steps for Your Trip
To make this trip actually work, stop overthinking the "perfect" ticket and look at your watch.
If you are on a tight schedule and have the cash, book the Eurostar on the NS International app right now. Do not wait until tomorrow; the price will go up.
If you want to save money and stay flexible, just buy a "Standard" InterCity ticket. This ticket is valid for any IC train on that specific date. You don't even have to pick a time. You just show up.
When you get to Brussels Midi, follow the signs for "Transit" or "Central" and look for the overhead boards. Any train that lists "Bru. Centraal" is your ride. Get on it. Get off at the next stop. Walk out into the crisp Belgian air, find the nearest shop selling a waffle with speculoos, and realize you just crossed an international border for the price of a decent lunch.
Safe travels. Keep your ticket handy; the Belgian conductors are thorough and they will ask to see it at least once before you hit Antwerp.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check the Calendar: If your travel date is a Saturday or Sunday, compare the "Weekend Return" price on the SNCB International site.
- Download the Apps: Get both NS International and SNCB (NMBS) apps. One is better for the Dutch side, the other is better for tracking Belgian platform changes in real-time.
- Validate Your Route: If taking the InterCity, ensure you aren't accidentally boarding the "high-speed" P-trains in Belgium which require a different supplement. Stick to the yellow and blue IC cars.
- Locate Your Station: Verify if your final destination is Brussels Central (tourism) or Brussels Midi (international transfers/Eurostar). They are NOT the same place.