Previously, we shared the Eurostat statistics regarding intra-European Union travel in 2021. One notable statistic is the means of transport. Belgium is – or at least was in 2021 – champion at rail tourism.

13% of European residents chose the train to visit Belgium in 2021. 13% flew in and out and 69% came by car. 4% chose the bus. There are no numbers for tourist sailing to Belgium. 

For the EU in general, 5% get in and out by rail, 33% by air, 2% by waterway, 3% by bus and 55% by car.

The Dutch

In Belgium, and especially in Flanders, the Netherlands are seen an example to follow. “Nederland, gidsland” is the expression. Well, only 7% of the tourists get in and out by train, 9% by air, 4% by waterways, 4% by bus and 75% by car. Maybe it’s all those caravans. 

The Swiss

Of the surveyed countries, only Switzerland, the actual train walhalla in Europe, does better than Belgium, with 15% of tourists getting in and out by train. The Confoederatio Helvetica is not a part of the European Union but is part of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) together with Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. The EFTA countries have close ties with the EU. 

COVID-19

Of course, the numbers date from 2021, in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic travel restrictions. People travelled differently. Since then, some have picked up old habits, but 2019 is never coming back. Prices, the climate, political situations have changed.

International links

So, what are those international train links with the Kingdom? We have links to our neighbouring countries the Netherlands, Germany, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and France, but also to Austria and the United Kingdom.

We could divide those into two categories. ‘Formal’ link, where you better book your seat, and ‘informal’ ones, where you can just hop on the train – with a valid ticket obviously! – and cross the border.

With reservation, all departing from Brussels:

• Eurostar / Thalys to Paris, Marne-la-Vallée, Charles De Gaulle, London, Amsterdam, Cologne, Aachen and Düsseldorf. But also sometimes to Bourg-Saint-Maurice in the Alps and Marseille. 
• The Deutsche Bahn ICE service to Cologne and Frankfurt.
• TGV / inOui trains to Rennes, Lyon, Marseille, Perpignan, Strasbourg, Lille. 
• ÖBB‘s Nightjet to Vienna.
• The European Sleeper to Berlin. 

Without reservation:

• The Benelux train from Brussels to Amsterdam.
• The S32 train Puurs – Antwerp – Roosendaal.
• The Antwerp – Ghent – Lille intercity. 
• The local train from Spa to Welkenraedt and Aachen.
• The Liège to Luxembourg intercity.
• The Brussels – Arlon – Luxembourg intercity.
• The Namur – Charleroi – Mons – Lille – Tournai intercity.
• The Namur – Charleroi – Maubeuge train.