Intercity Brussels operates on the highspeed connection via Breda to Antwerp and Brussels. The connection via Breda ensures that Belgium can also be easily reached by train from the south of the Netherlands.
From various stations in the Netherlands you can find a connection to Intercity Brussels. If you are travelling from Utrecht you will only need to go to Rotterdam to catch the international Intercity to Belgium. Travelling from Brabant you can easily change trains in Breda to Belgian destinations.
For a complete travel itinerary, consult our itinerary planner
The moment of travel of booking and the departure and arrival station determine the price. Your ticket will give you access to every train on the chosen day of departure. You cannot reserve a seat on the Intercity Brussels.
There are two types of rates.
| Early Bird Week (Mo-Thu) | Early Bird Weekend (Fri-Sun) | 100% korting* combined with Early Bird week | 100% discount* combined with Early Bird weekend | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amsterdam - Antwerp | € 20 | € 26 | € 5,50 | € 7 |
| Rotterdam - Antwerp | € 13 | € 17 | € 5,50 | € 7 |
| Breda - Antwerp | € 9 | € 11 | € 5,50 | € 7 |
| Early Bird Week (Mo-Thu) | Early Bird Weekend (Fri-Sun) | 100% korting* combined with Early Bird week | 100% korting* combined with Early Bird weekend | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amsterdam - Brussels | € 25 | € 33 | € 10,50 | € 14 |
| Rotterdam - Brussels | € 18 | € 24 | € 10,50 | € 14 |
| Breda - Brussels | € 14 | € 18 | € 10,50 | € 14 |
| Flex rate | 40% discount subscription | 100% discount subscription* | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amsterdam - Antwerp | € 39,20 | € 27,80 | € 10,60 |
| Rotterdam - Antwerp | € 25,40 | € 19,50 | € 10,60 |
| Breda - Antwerp | € 15,40 | € 13,50 | € 10,60 |
* 40% & 100% discount only applies for the Dutch part of your trip.
| Flex rate | 40% discount subscription* | 100% discount subscription* | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amsterdam - Brussels | € 49,80 | € 38,40 | € 21,20 |
| Rotterdam - Brussels | € 36,00 | € 30,10 | € 21,20 |
| Breda - Brussels | € 26,00 | € 24,10 | € 21,20 |
Children from 4 to 11 years old travel for free with an adult (max. 4 children per adult) if you book a ticket online.
Passengers with an Intercity Brussels ticket can also travel with Intercity direct on the Amsterdam-Rotterdam route. You do not need a supplement; your international ticket for Intercity Brussels is sufficient.
A new railway track was built in Belgium in 2012. This track provides a better connection between Brussels Airport - Zaventem and Antwerp and Liège. In order for this project to be feasible, passengers travelling to Brussels Airport - Zaventem pay a surcharge.
This surcharge is included in your ticket.
When you are travelling to Belgium with the regional trains via Maastricht or Roosendaal other fares apply. More information about regional trains
Intercity Brussels has 2 travel classes: 1st class and 2nd class. In 1st class, you will benefit from additional advantages, such as greater comfort and extra legroom.
Do you often travel to Belgium? Then you can use NS Flex Traject Vrij. This allows you to travel unlimited on a fixed route from a Dutch station. The subscription is valid up to border point Hazeldonk.
For more information about the subscription to Hazeldonk or Roosendaal and purchase, please visit ns.nl or contact our Customer Service via 0900-8301 (0.10 per minute, Monday to Friday from 8.00 to 18.00). If you are calling from abroad, you can reach us at 0031-30-7515134.
For the Belgian part of your route, there are several NMBS subscriptions that can be used together with the NS Border Subscription. The Standard Season Ticket is valid for a fixed route and the Unlimited Season ticket (Nettrain Card) is valid for the entire Belgian network. Find more information about subscriptions in Belgium on nmbs.be
Do you travel to Belgium only occasionally and do you have an NS subscription? Then we advise you to purchase an international ticket online for your entire train journey. That is: from your departure station in the Netherlands to your final destination in Belgium. Indicate which discount (40% or 100% discount) you are entitled to during your journey. More information about the discounts and times of your NS subscription
An NS subscription or OV Student travel product usually offers discount on the domestic part of your international trip. The discount is applied to the price when you indicate which NS subscription you have while booking your international ticket. Booking online is the quickest and easiest way to get your discount.
Your NS Subscription together with your international ticket your valid proof of travel. Upon inspection, you must show them both. When making an international trip, you do not check in and out with your NS subscription, but just open the gates with the international ticket. More information about subscriptions in the Netherlands
Depending on the NS Subscription and the time of travel could get 40% or 100% discount on the Dutch part of your trip. For the Belgian part, you can buy your ticket at a discount if you have a 50% reduction card (for example, Kaart Grote Gezinnen en Kaart Verhoogde Tegemoetkoming).
Find more information about international travel with other NS subscriptions
There are electrical outlets in 1st class, usually in the ceiling above the seats.
You are advised to only take luggage that you can easily carry on board and that can be placed in the storage spaces provided. Small-sized luggage can be placed in the luggage racks above the seats and there are special spaces between the seats for the larger luggage items.
To take your bicycle, you need an international bicycle ticket for the price of € 12 per single journey. Here you find the conditions for taking your bicycle on the Intercity Brussels:
Please note: you can book your bike ticket to and from Belgium online. For certain stations and routes in Belgium, it is not possible to take a bicycle: to/from Brussels Central, Brussels Congres and Brussel Kapellekerk.
There is no catering present on board Intercity Brussels.
Small pets transported in a cage, bag or basket (maximum dimension 30x30x55 cm) may travel for free in the Netherlands. Obviously, this does also apply to guide dogs as these may travel for free and are not obligated to wear a muzzle. A guide rate ticket is needed for a guide dog.
Is your dog too big then it should always be kept on a leash, wear a muzzle and have a valid ticket. You can also purchase a ticket for a dog at one of the self-service ticket machines. A ticket between the Netherlands and Belgium costs € 6, one way. In Belgium is a ticket € 3.
There is no WiFi on board Intercity Brussel.
What does it cost to travel with children? Can I bring a stroller on board? May children walk about and play? Read all the practical information about travelling with children
If you have a 1st class ticket, you can get a free drink and stay comfortably at an NS International Lounge in Amsterdam, Schiphol and Rotterdam.
Recently, Wouter became an engine driver for Intercity Brussels. The work is nice and we are a close-knit team.