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Complementing the high-speed train offer, InterCity trains tak you from any Belgian station to around 400 destinations in The Netherlands at high frequency. Easily book your InterCity train tickets between Belgium, the Netherlands, France and Luxembourg from SNCB International.
Due to planned engineering works on the Dutch rail network, InterCity Netherlands trains will be diverted to an alternative route between Rotterdam and Amsterdam from Saturday 16 to Sunday 1 December 2024 inclusive. As a consequence, they will not call at Schiphol-Airport and the travel time will be slightly adjusted.
Passengers to Schiphol-Airport can change trains in Rotterdam and make use of other NS (Dutch railway) operated trains to Schiphol-Airport.
Please check the adapted schedules for your journey a few days before travel.
InterCity Brussels - Amsterdam disappears
From 15 December 2024, the InterCity Brussels - Amsterdam will cease to run. Eurocity Direct and EuroCity will from then on operate the service between Belgium and the Netherlands.
Specific fares apply if you are using the InterCity Netherlands train (with border crossing at Hazeldonk):
International rail discount card
Do you have an international Railplus reduction card purchased before 9 December 2018? Then you receive a 15% discount on your entire journey until 14 December 2019 (15% off the standard fare).
Belgian national rail discount cards
Do you have a discount card valid on SNCB (Belgian Rail) trains, e.g. card for Large Families, journalists or a card for Preferential Reimbursement? Then you can also enjoy your national reduction (50% or even free travel, depending on the terms of your discount card) for the Belgian portion of an international route with an InterCity or local train.
If you're in possession of an international Railplus card, you can even combine both discounts!
More information about national reduction cards on the Belgian Rail website >
From the stations of Breda, Rotterdam and Amsterdam, you can easily travel further to other destinations in the Netherlands.
There's no seat reservation on our InterCity trains. This is why you won't find a carriage or seat number on your ticket, as you are free to choose a seat on board the train in the travel class indicated on your ticket (1st or 2nd class).
With your InterCity train ticket you can get on and off when you want along the route you have booked. You can also choose between direct connections or a journey with one or several changes. You can also use as many IC or local trains as you wish.
As a bonus, travelling on board of InterCity also gives you the right to interrupt your journey should you want to. If you're travelling from Brussels to Amsterdam with a Flex ticket, for instance, you may get off at Antwerp or Rotterdam and spend a few hours there before continuing your trip to Amsterdam (using the same train ticket).
Exception: if you travel on the InterCity Netherlands train (Brussels and Amsterdam via Breda) with a cheaper Early Bird ticket, your ticket is only valid at the time selected at the time of your purchase and on the specific train mentioned on your ticket.
Please note the following conditions:
Note: If you take a train that requires payment of a mandatory surcharge or a reservation (for example, Thalys) for all or part of your journey, you must pay this surcharge in addition to your ticket. Please check which type of train you are taking when you consult the timetable for your journey.
For safety reasons, a maximum of 4 bicycles can be taken on board the IC Brussels - Amsterdam. For this, you can buy a special bike ticket online, via our Contact Center or at ticket offices of stations with international ticket sales.
The price for a bike ticket from Belgium to the Netherlands (via Breda) depends on the distance. Examples (price each way):
As the number of places is limited, we advise you to travel outside peak hours. Travellers must load and unload their bikes themselves and at their own risk.
Buy your bike ticketYou can take your bike on most trains. But conditions vary from one rail company to another:
On the Paris-London route, normal bicycles can be transported through Eurostar's baggage check-in service if they are unclipped and packed, and if booked in advance via travelservices@eurostar.com. Until further notice, this service is not available in Brussels and Lille.
Folding bikes and bikes in a cover measuring a max. of 130 x 90 cm (front wheel unclipped) can be taken on the train free of charge, provided they are placed in the space reserved for luggage. This space can be found at the end of the carriages. Due to limited space, bikes which are not folded up or have not had their front wheel unclipped are not allowed on board TGV.
All luggage (including bikes) that you place in luggage compartments must carry a label with your name and seat number. Labels are available free of charge at your station of departure.
Folding bikes can be taken free of charge as luggage on all ICE trains.
On ICE trains with a bicycle compartment (including the ICE 3neo trains operating the Brussels-Cologne-Frankfurt route), you can take a normal bike (or tandem, tricycle or bicycle with a trailer) if you purchase a special bike ticket, available at our Contact Centre or at ticket offices of stations with international ticket sales. The price of this ticket depends on the distance, but may also vary from one train to another depending on the expected occupation.
On the InterCity Brussels-Amsterdam train, you can take your bike (or tandem, tricycle or bicycle with a trailer) if you purchase a special bike ticket, available online, at our Contact Centre or at ticket offices of stations with international ticket sales.
As the number of spaces is limited, we recommend you travel at off-peak times. For security reasons, the number of bicycles admitted on the IC Brussels-Amsterdam is limited to 4.
Loading and unloading bikes are the passenger's responsibility.
The price for your bike ticket depends on the distance. A few examples (price each way) :
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Due to increased traffic expected during the summer, a reservation for your bike is mandatory when travelling on the IC Brussels - Amsterdam train from 9 June to 15 September 2024. This reservation supplement will be included automatically in the price of your bike ticket.
Like on our domestic trains in Belgium, you can take your bike (or tandem, tricycle or bicycle with a trailer) on our cross-border regional trains if you purchase a special bike ticket, available online, at our Contact Centre or at ticket offices of stations with international ticket sales.
As the number of spaces is limited, we recommend you travel at off-peak times. Loading and unloading bikes are the passenger's responsibility.
Destination | Fare departing from Belgium |
The Netherlands (via Roosendaal or Maastricht) | €4 |
Aachen | €4 |
Luxembourg | €4 |
Lille, Roubaix, Tourcoing, Maubeuge | €4 |
Taking your bicycle on Nightjet is only allowed on the trains equipped with a dedicated carriage for luggage and bicycles, with a compulsory reservation for a fixed price of €12 per bicycle each way. Such a carriage is available on the following connections:
Taking your bicycle on the direct Brussels-Vienna connection is not allowed.
However, you can take a foldable bike with you as free hand luggage if it's folded and packed in a format that makes it possible to store it above your seat or in the luggage racks of couchette or seater compartments.
For security reasons, it is not allowed to remove the pedals and/or turn the steering rod, nor to leave your bicycle in the corridor or near the entrance doors of the train.
On most trains, you can take your pet with you. But rules vary from one rail carrier to another:
"conventional" daytime trains (e.g. Intercity or regional trains) to/from Belgium
ICE and other trains operated by Deutsche Bahn
Eurostar between Belgium, France, Germany and the Netherlands
Exception: animals are not allowed on board Eurostar Snow and Eurostar Sun.
Eurostar to/from London
Animals are not allowed on board Eurostar trains to/from the United Kingdom. Only guide dogs accompanying a blind passenger are authorised under strict conditions. They must have:
A special free ticket is issued for the transportation of a guide dog accompanying a blind passenger.
TGV INOUI
Overnight trains
NS International - Regus Express lounges, situated at Amsterdam Central, Rotterdam Central and Schiphol stations are pleasant relaxing spaces, where you can relax or work whilst waiting for your train. They offer a Wi-Fi connection and meeting rooms.
These lounges can be used by:
Generally speaking and unlike most high-speed trains, InterCity and regional trains in Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands do not require a reservation. For these trains, when choosing a Flex/Standard ticket, you get an open ticket, valid on any train (at any time of the day) on the date and route mentioned on your ticket. Great flexibility!
Exception: if you travel with a cheaper Early Bird ticket on the InterCity Netherlands train (Brussels and Amsterdam via Breda), your ticket is only valid at the time and on the specific train selected at the time of your purchase.
Similarly, on IC and ICE trains run by Deutsche Bahn, seat reservation is optional. Consequently, most tickets for journeys in Germany do not necessarily show the time either. Remember though, that the Supersparpreis, Supersparpreis Europa and Sparpreis Europa economy fares do require you to use the specific train you chose when buying your ticket. In this case, the train number and time of departure are shown on your ticket.
If you're travelling with the InterCity train between Belgium and the Netherlands (via Breda), buy your tickets in advance! Early Bird tickets are available in limited quantities and are only available for journeys outside of peak hours at the time and on the specific train selected at the time of your purchase. Enjoy 25% or 40% off purchases made respectively at least 3 or 5 days prior to departure.
If you're travelling between Belgium and Luxembourg, however, it may be cheaper to travel in the weekend: the Weekend fare offers 30% off your return journey from Friday to Sunday. And if you're younger than 26, the Youth fare will offer 30% off for travelling any day of the week.
If you're travelling between Belgium and Northern France with InterCity and TER Hauts-de-France trains, go for a return trip between Friday morning and Sunday evening: with the Weekend fare, you get 40% off. This Weekend fare applies to journeys to and from: Abbeville, Amiens, Annappes, Arras, Ascq, Aulnoye Aymeries, Baisieux, Béthune, Boulogne Ville, Calais Ville, Chantilly Gouvieux, Compiègne, Croix l'Allumette, Croix Wasquehal, Douai, Dunkerque, Etaples Le Touquet, Hellemmes, Le Cateau, Lens, Lezennes, Lille Flandres, Maubeuge, Noyon, Paris Nord (via Maubeuge/Aulnoye), Pont de Bois, Pont Ste Maxence, Roubaix, St Quentin (Aisne), Tourcoing, Valenciennes.
If you're younger than 26, there's a Youth fare for travelling between Belgium and the same destinations in Northern France. This Youth fare offers 30% off and is valid anytime.
For this type of train, there are no restrictions on the various fares. So you don't need to book ahead to get the best prices.
International season tickets are available:
And if you regularly take the same journey between Belgium, France, Germany and the Netherlands with Eurostar, remember that Eurostar offers a Premium Pass and Frequent Pass, which means you benefit from cheaper flexible fares. Check the Eurostar website for more information about the Premium and Frequent Passes.