How to get from Brussels to Amsterdam

While both Brussels and Amsterdam have long histories, they complement each other in terms of city life - the color and culture of Amsterdam contrasted against the brute political power of Brussels. Come for the museums, stay for the beauty, remember the charm. If you decide to take a car transfer from Amsterdam and Brussels, you can also enjoy some exceptional sights, including historic Leuven, the lovely town of Lier Begijnhof, uber-cool Antwerp, UNESCO-listed Kinderdijk, canal-threaded Utrecht, and the quaint De Haar Castle. 

How to get from Brussels to Amsterdam

If you’re traveling from Brussels to Amsterdam, you have several travel options. For budget travelers, the bus is the cheapest way to travel from Brussels to Amsterdam. The fastest way to travel from Brussels to Amsterdam is by train or car, though a car is, of course, the best way to travel from Brussels to Amsterdam since it’s so convenient. It’s also possible to take a flight from Brussels to Amsterdam, though with airport waiting times, it is the slowest and most expensive option.

Brussels to Amsterdam by train

To travel from Brussels to Amsterdam by train, you need to get to Brussels-Midi station and purchase a ticket to Amsterdam Centraal, or you can buy your tickets in advance online. The earliest train is at 5:45 AM, and the last train is at 9:52 PM, with trains departing every hour. The trains from Brussels to Amsterdam are operated by SNCB, Thalys, and Eurostar, with train tickets from Brussels to Amsterdam costing €46 on average for the 2-3 hour trip (depending on which company you choose). The distance from Brussels to Amsterdam is about 200 kilometers. Trains have bathrooms on board and usually offer a dining car.

• Train intervals 1 hour

• First/Last departure 5:45 AM/9:52 PM

• Avg. price €46

• Distance ~200 km

• Duration ~1 hr 50 min OR 2 hr 46 min

• Operating companies SNCB, Thalys, and Eurostar

Brussels to Amsterdam by bus

There are several options for traveling from Brussels to Amsterdam by bus. There are a couple of major bus stations in each city that offer various connections between one another, so be sure to be mindful of which stations are most convenient for you. In Amsterdam, you can go to the Brussels North or Brussels South (also called Midi/Zuid) stations to purchase your tickets to either Amsterdam Sloterdijk or Amsterdam Bijlmer. While you can buy your ticket at the station, it’s best to purchase them in advance. The earliest bus is at 12:45 AM, and the last bus is at 9:45 PM, with at least one bus leaving every hour. The bus from Brussels to Amsterdam is run by Flixbus, Eurolines, or BlaBlaBus, with bus tickets from Brussels to Amsterdam costing between €10-€30 for the 3-hour trip (exact travel times vary). The distance from Brussels to Amsterdam is about 200 kilometers. All options offer direct service from Brussels to Amsterdam.

• Time intervals 1 per hour

• First/Last departure 12:45 AM/9:45 PM

• Avg. price €10-€30

• Distance ~200 km

• Duration ~3 hr

• Operating companies Flixbus, Eurolines, BlaBlaBus

Brussels to Amsterdam flight

To travel by plane, you need to get to Brussels Airport BRU. As usual with flights, you’ll want to buy your tickets in advance. For traveling such a short distance, only direct flights make sense. The plane tickets cost, on average, €220 for the 60-minute flight from Brussels to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. It’s recommended to arrive at the airport 2 hours before the flight, making this the slowest and most expensive option.

• Flights per day 5

• Departure times 6:15 AM, 8:05 AM, 10:40 AM, 4:45 PM, 6:05 PM

• Avg. price €220

• Distance 200 km

• Duration ~60 min

• Operating companies KLM Royal Dutch Airlines

Brussels to Amsterdam private car transfer

For speed and convenience, a private car transfer with Daytrip is the best way to travel from Brussels to Amsterdam. You will be picked up at your accommodation in Brussels, and the driver will take care of your luggage. You’ll then be able to enjoy door-to-door service to your accommodation in Amsterdam and can even add sightseeing stops on the way!

• Price from $70 (€66) per seat

• Distance 205 km

• Duration door-to-door in 2 hr 40 min