How to Get to Amsterdam from Brussels

There is a wide variety of options to get from Brussels to Amsterdam, from conventional options such as going by train, bus, car or plane; to cycling, private transfer or hitchhiking.

Being in these two cities is all charm. Among all the things to see in Amsterdam you can find canals, bicycles, artistic houses...; while Brussels stands out for its great architecture, iconic breweries and well-kept statues.

One of the best ways to get to Amsterdam from Brussels is to book your organized tour. You will not have to worry about schedules, variable rates and other details, and you will be able to enjoy all the original things to do in Amsterdam at your leisure.

Normally, guided tours will 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 to have a drink in a cafe.

• Duration: 8am to 8:30pm
• Meeting point: Brussels city center
• End of tour: 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, practically 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 depending on dates, routes, and anticipation.
• Recommended if... You are looking for comfort, speed and 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 center.

When does the first and last train from Brussels to Amsterdam depart?

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

For more information on schedules 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 be aware of the time factor.

The main company that follows this route is Flixbus, being 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 the ticket.
• Recommended if... You are looking for the cheapest option.

Where are the departure and arrival bus stations?

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

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 depart?

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

You can check the latest schedule here.

Although Brussels and Amsterdam are just over 200 km away from each other, there are direct flights between these 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 one hour
• Price: between 50€ and 100€, depending on how far in advance you buy your ticket.
• Recommended if... You are looking 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 transportation model.

If you are still interested in traveling this way between Brussels and Amsterdam, I recommend visiting the BlaBlaCar website and searching for rides there.

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

For a comfortable, fast and uncomplicated trip, you can book a private transfer from Brussels to Amsterdam. It is not a cheap trip and usually the car has capacity for 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 in just over 2 hours you can get from one capital to the other. Of course, if you choose this route, you are also interested in the area between these two cities, so you should not rush. There is a lot to see:

• Leuven: city famous for its university and Stella Artois beer.
• Antwerp: in the 15th century it used to be the most important and richest commercial city in Europe, these days you can still see numerous 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 in spring to Amsterdam, be sure to stop at the Keukenhof botanical garden to admire the beautiful tulips.

• Duration: 2 hours
• Price: about 60€.
• Recommended if... You are looking to plan your itinerary without depending on public transportation schedules 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 you have to take streetcar 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 distances by getting 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. Therefore, for many it is not such a far-fetched decision to travel from one capital to the other. This is also why you will find very good trails on most of your trip.

Cycling from Brussels to Amsterdam is quite 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 sports and want to enjoy the scenery from a closer angle.