Ticket from Amsterdam CS to Brugge

Posted 5 years ago

Hi, I\'m looking for tickets from Amsterdam Central Station to Brugge. At first I started looking for Rail Europe and I found very high prices (something of 200USD per person going and returning). Then, as I understand it, Rail Europe did not show me the IC options (I understand it\'s a regional train company) that are cheaper but take longer.

Therefore, I searched two pages: a) NS International and b) SNCB International. Where I see cheaper options (which take a little longer), but also the Thalys.

Now, my queries are the following:
1) Are those pages safe to get the tickets? Do you recommend them?
2) Can I be charged for an extra that does not appear on the page, such as the Thalys seat reservation?
3) Is it advisable to take out the tickets now (we travel in September and we are 2) or maybe it is better to take them out there a day before and there is no problem of place? I guess the last option is crazy.
4) Is there another page to get the tickets besides the 2 that I mentioned?
5) I have read that some regional trains (for example, the train from Brussels to Bruges) are open, so you can take any train on the day with the same ticket. ¿It\'s ok?

Any additional information will be appreciated.
Thank you
regards,

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Peter
Traveller
9331 comments

replied 5 years ago

Hi.

Rail Europe is not a national railway company. If I\'m right, they charge an extra service fee. At least they do not offer on all routes the available saver fares and special offers. It is much better to buy your train tickets directly at the national railway companies. In your case from "NS International" (Netherlands railways) [ux]https://rail.shop/nsinternational[/ux] or "B-Europe" (= SNCB = Belgian railways) [ux]https://rail.shop/beurope[/ux] .

1) I recommend both pages (see links above) more than Rail Europe.

2) You will always find the full price on both pages. If a seat reservation is required (as for Thalys) it is already included in the ticket price you see.

3) Booking earlier is recommend, as then you get the saver fares. Booking the day before you travel means ticket prices are higher if you want to travel on saver fares and not standard fares (example Thalys).

4) Yes, for example Omio [ux]https://rail.shop/omio[/ux] - also easy to use and reliable.

5) Depends on your ticket, but if you buy the "Standard ticket" on [ux]https://rail.shop/sncb[/ux] you are not fixed on a certain train, but can use all on the day of travel you selected.

Pete :)

Flo
Traveller
10723 comments

replied 5 years ago

3) You can always book a ticket for one of the hourly "IC" trains between Amsterdam and Antwerpen/Brussels. Tickets are issued without seat reservations, in case the train is full you would have to stand up or take the next connection.

Within the Netherlands and Belgium, all domestic trains are sold without seat reservations and you can always board a train with a valid ticket.

GuillermoAmorosino
Traveller
3 comments

replied 5 years ago

Genio, gracias Cra\'

macagrad70
Traveller
1 comments

replied 5 years ago

Hi.

We are two seniors wanting to travel in August, same-day, round-trip Amsterdam/Bruges/Amsterdam.

1. Can we buy a same-day, round-trip ticket, or do we need two one-ways?
2. If we can buy RT, which site is the best (easiest) to use?
3. Are there senior fares?
4. How do we determine which stop in Bruges makes the most sense?
5. What type of train should we be looking for?

Thank you, in advance, for your help.

Cindy

Pendolino
Traveller
17 comments

replied 5 years ago

Hello Cindy,

There are several ways to buy tickets, some of which are cheaper than others. Be aware that it takes between 2:45 and 4:00 depending on what kind of trains you travel with. I have done a similar day trip the other way round, so it is doable, but it also depends on how much you want to see in Amsterdam and what you would like to do. Here are my answers to your questions.

I would advise to always use the "Brugge" station. "Brugge-Sint-Pieters" is further from the centre and requires an extra change at Brugge station. You can take frequent buses to the station if you think your accomodation is far from the station. Here are a few options for which trains to take and what tickets to buy.

1) Travel with Thalys (fastest) (2:44 | 2nd €76,50 | 1st €119,80)
Buy 2 single journeys Thalys Antwerpen Centraal - Amsterdam Centraal vv. costing €35 in 2nd class and €53 in 1st class. Use NS International to buy your tickets: https://rail.shop/nsinternational For the part Brugge - Antwerpen Centraal you can use a senior return ticket costing €6,50/€13,80.* You can buy this ticket at a ticket machine or at the train station.
Or you can buy tickets for the whole journey, but that costs €115,60 in 2nd class and €132,80 in 1st class. Example itinerary with connections every hour:
dep. 07:58 Brugge (IC)
arr. 08:20 Gent Sint Pieters
dep. 08:27 Gent Sint Pieters (IC)
arr. 09:23 Antwerpen Centraal
dep. 09:30 Antwerpen Centraal (Thalys)
arr. 10:42 Amsterdam Centraal

2) Travel with IC Brussel (3:39 | 2nd €58 | 1st €82)
Buy two single journeys Brugge - Amsterdam Centraal on NS International: https://rail.shop/nsinternational. Example itinerary with connections every hour:
dep. 07:58 Brugge (IC)
arr. 08:20 Gent Sint Pieters
dep. 08:27 Gent Sint Pieters (IC)
arr. 09:23 Antwerpen Centraal
dep. 09:45 Antwerpen Centraal (IC Brussel)
arr. 11:37 Amsterdam Centraal

3) Travel with IC Brussel and senior ticket* (cheapest) (3:39 | 2nd €46,50 | 1st €69,80)
Buy 2 single journeys Antwerpen Centraal - Amsterdam Centraal vv. costing €20 in 2nd class and €28 in 1st class. Then use a senior ticket for the route Brugge - Antwerpen Centraal costing €6,50/€13,80.* You can buy this ticket at a ticket machine or at the train station.
Example itinerary starting after 9:00:*
dep. 08:58 Brugge (IC)
arr. 09:20 Gent Sint Pieters
dep. 09:27 Gent Sint Pieters (IC)
arr. 10:23 Antwerpen Centraal
dep. 10:45 Antwerpen Centraal (IC Brussel)
arr. 12:37 Amsterdam Centraal

* Senior tickets are only valid on weekdays from 9:00, and Saturday and Sunday the whole day. This ticket is not valid on weekends from 14 July till 19 August 2018.

A note about travelling in the Netherlands: Amsterdam Centraal (and many other large stations) have barriers at the station entrances. You can only enter the station with a valid ticket. The QR-code on you ticket will open the gates for you.

A note about Gent Sint Pieters station: the fastest option requires a change of trains at Gent Sint Pieters. There are however construction works going on, so be sure that you know what platform you connecting train leaves. If you don\'t want to change trains at Gent Sint Pieters you have to leave 33 minutes earlier for a direct train Brugge - Antwerpen Centraal.

Mattheas

Pendolino
Traveller
17 comments

replied 5 years ago

I am sorry that I did not read you question well, as you want to travel the other way round. The prices remain the same, and the 9:00-rule for the senior ticket in Belgium does not apply to you as you will arrive in Belgium after 9:00. Brugge station is still the best station, and within walking distance from the centre. Example train times from Amsterdam Centraal will be:
dep. 08:17 Amsterdam Centraal (Thalys)
arr. 09:30 Antwerpen Centraal
dep. 09:51 Antwerpen Centraal (IC)
arr. 11:17 Brugge
OR
dep. 08:22 Amsterdam Centraal (IC Brussel)
arr. 11:15 Bruxelles Midi
dep. 11:26 Bruxelles Midi (IC)
arr. 12:29 Brugge
OR
dep 08:22 Amsterdam Centraal (IC Brussel)
arr 10:15 Antwerpen Centraal
dep 11:06 Antwerpen Centraal (IC)
arr 12:34 Brugge

GuillermoAmorosino
Traveller
3 comments

replied 5 years ago

Hi Cindy,
We bought ticket from Amsterdam CS to Brugge. We paid €129,60
This is our scheduled and we buy this ticket in NSInternational.nl [ux]https://rail.shop/nsinternational[/ux]

Outward
Amsterdam Centraal - Brugge

Departure: Thu 20 Sep 2018 at 08:22
Arrival: Thu 20 Sep 2018 at 12:29
Travel time: 04:07
Changes: 1
Class: Standard Class

Inbound
Brugge - Amsterdam Centraal

Departure: Thu 20 Sep 2018 at 18:58
Arrival: Thu 20 Sep 2018 at 21:42
Travel time: 02:44
Changes: 2
Class: Standard Class

Routedetails-AMS to Brugge

D 08:22 Amsterdam Centraal
A 11:15 Bruxelles Midi
Transfer (11 min.)
D 11:26 Bruxelles Midi
A 12:29 Brugge

Routedetails-Brugge to AMS

D 18:58 Brugge
A 19:20 Gent St Pieters
Transfer (07 min.)
D 19:27 Gent St Pieters
A 20:23 Antwerpen Centraal
Transfer (07 min.)
D 20:30 Antwerpen Centraal
A 21:42 Amsterdam Centraal

We have some question, for example If we want return before from Brugge we can take another train and make and stop in Gent St Piters or Antwerpen Centraal?

Good Luck
Guille

Pendolino
Traveller
17 comments

replied 5 years ago

Hello Guille,

The train from 20:30 Antwerpen Centraal to 21:42 Amsterdam Centraal is a Thalys train. This is a ticket for a specific train on a specific time. Make sure to arrive at your platform on time as you have to find your specific allocated seats.
All the other trains are regular Intercity trains, which are not restricted to a specific time. You can take any train on the route, as long as you travel on the day specified on your ticket. It is therefore totally possible to have a stopover in Gent or Antwerpen.
(btw.: Antwerpen Centraal is in my opnion the most beautiful railway station of Belgium. Most railway stations in Belgium are dull concrete buildings hehe)

Mattheas