Amsterdam to Brussels : 2 hours by train
Because Belgium is a small country, many visitors combine their travel itineraries with Paris, the Netherlands, or Germany.
Amsterdam in Netherlands and Brussels in Belgium are most popular combinations, as the two cities are close together and easy to travel between.
The journey between Amsterdam and Brussels can be made by express train “THALYS”. The earlier you buy this ticket, the more chances you save (the same as flight tickets). So we strongly recommend booking online before your trip.
What is THALYS train?
Thalys is a high-speed train that connects Amsterdam Centraal and BRUXELLES MIDI (South) stations. It takes 2 hours, and runs every 30 minutes from early morning to midnight.
All seats in Thalys are reserved, and prices vary according to seat classes and options. We recommend booking as early as possible before your trip. Reservations can be made as early as 90 days prior to the travel date.
While there are discounts of up to 75% for early reservations, fares become more expensive when less than two weeks are left before the travel date.
How to book your ticket in advance
You can book Thalys tickets through Omio website, which sells transportation tickets for all of Europe.
Buying tickets is very easy. First, go to Omio website and enter your destination, number of people and travel dates. You can change language and currency settings at the right top of the screen.
If empty, input the following names.
| Netherlands | Amsterdam Centraal, Netherlands |
| Belgium | Brussels-Midi, Belgium |
Clicking on the “Search” button will show you the available seats and the information of Thalys available for that time slot.
There are 2 types of trains in your search results – Thalys and International Trains operated by Netherlands. Select Thalys because the other one takes longer time (+1 hour).
Select the one you would like to take, first “departure train” then “return train”. When you select trains, the total train fair will appear.
Next, enter your seat class (second , first or premium class) and window or aisle preference.
First and Premium class offer you a better seat, quiet (business like) environment and serve you a meal.
Next, enter the information of the person who will be boarding the train.
Enter the same name as your passport, as they may check your ticket along with your passport on the day of the ride. My Thalys World Number is a membership number for people who use Thalys frequently, most people will leave it blank.
Next, enter your payment information and proceed to payment. Credit cards, Paypal, and Google Pay are accepted.
Once your purchase is complete, Omio will send you a mobile ticket or reservation confirmation number by e-mail.
After you bought a ticket
If your ticket is mobile e-ticket, you don’t need to do anything! Just go to the platform of the Thalys train. There is no security check.
If you received a reservation confirmation number and need to print a paper ticket, you can do so at an automatic ticket machine located at Amsterdam Centraal Station or Brussels South Station.
