From 2025, the Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS) and NMBS / SNCB are doubling the number of so-called Benelux trains between the Netherlands and Brussels in Belgium from 16 to 32 per day. A new, fast connection will be added to the 2025 timetable. With that connection, travelers are about 45 minutes shorter on the road than now. While NS says “2025”, NMBS / SNCB says “December 2024”

In just over two hours NS and NMBS / SNCB will connect Amsterdam to Brussels. NS is using the Intercity New Generation (ICNG) aka Wasp for this purpose, which travels on the high-speed line at a maximum speed of 200 km per hour. This connection is in addition to an intercity connection between Rotterdam, Breda and Brussels.

Faster

The shorter travel time is possible due to faster trains, fewer intermediate stops and the new Amsterdam South (Zuid) starting point, which is closer to the high-speed line than Amsterdam Central. NS has ordered new trains especially for the Amsterdam South – Brussels South / Midi connection. This train can run in the Netherlands and Belgium. 

There is room for 413 passengers on the train. These new trains fulfill a long-cherished wish of travelers for a fast Intercity connection between the two capitals. 

Travelers from, for example, Utrecht or The Hague can easily transfer to this new train. In the coming period, NS will work out further details, such as timetables and ticket prices, together with NMBS.

NS CEO Wouter Koolmees: “Every traveler who chooses the train as a means of transport to Brussels helps to combat climate change. It is our job to make the green option the easy option. Due to this major expansion, we are going to Brussels more often than ever and we are offering even more travelers the opportunity of a smooth international train journey.”

Double Dutch

In addition to the 16 trains from Amsterdam South, a train will also depart 16 times a day from Rotterdam Central to Brussels South / Midi. This connection is now known as the Intercity Brussels from Amsterdam Central. 

This train runs from Rotterdam via Breda and continues to stop at all current intermediate stations. This means, for example, that the city of Mechelen remains directly connected to the Netherlands and travelers to and from Brussels Airport – Zaventem retain a direct train. 

Travelers from The Hague, Utrecht and Amsterdam transfer via Rotterdam Central. The travel time for these travelers will remain comparable to the current connection.

“The current IC connection between Brussels-South and Amsterdam-Central will from now on run between Brussels-South and Rotterdam-Central. All current intermediate stations in Belgium (Brussels-Central, Brussels-North, Brussels Airport – Zaventem, Mechelen, Antwerp-Berchem, Antwerp-Central and Noorderkempen) and in the Netherlands (Breda) will continue to be served. The travel time between Brussels and Rotterdam is 2h07. In the future, this connection will also be ensured with new or newer train equipment”, NMBS / SNCB spokesperson Dimitri Temmerman says.

Popular destination

In the first half of this year, Brussels was NS’ most popular international destination. NS International has sold an average of 39,000 tickets per month to Brussels over the past six months. The number of tickets sold for Brussels is growing faster at NS on average than other destinations. After Brussels, Antwerp follows as the most popular destination. NS International sold an average of 36,000 tickets per month to this city in the first half of 2023. 

With the arrival of these Intercity trains and the current Thalys trains, 47 trains per day are expected to run between the Netherlands and Brussels in the 2025 timetable.

We say:

Obviously this good news and it was known for a while. Losing a direct link to Amsterdam Central is a shame though. “It’s not the sam”, laments Danny. Indeed, Amsterdam Central is centrally located, which made a visit to Amsterdam very straightforward.

Also, NS is showing the Wasp in the new livery.

More on Benelux trains

• Sampling NS’ new train and future Benelux rolling stock ICNG.
• Future Benelux ICNG trains complete test rides for Belgium.
• Brussels – Amsterdam ‘Benelux’ train service to be shortened by 40 minutes, skipping several stops in the Netherlands and Belgium.
• VIDEO | ICNG, the 2024 Benelux train from Amsterdam to Brussels.
• VIDEO | Brussels – Amsterdam with the Benelux-train (no reservations).
• Trying out the Benelux-intercity train from Antwerp to Breda.
• Benelux-intercity train from Brussels to Amsterdam changes route to Breda starting 9 April.