Brussels to Rotterdam by train

Prices explained

Prices explained

At Rail Europe we believe in price transparency. We use real data from Rail Europe searches to estimate the cheapest fares you should be able to find for your journey.

The cheapest price is the lowest fare we've ever found for this journey. These prices can usually be found by searching when booking opens but they vary due to availability, which depends on factors like the day of the week or time of year.

More popular journeys include 30 day advance and 7 day advance prices. These are updated every two weeks using prices we've found by searching exactly 7 or 30 days from the most recent Thursday (we picked Thursday because this is when average prices are usually found).

30 day and 7 day prices fluctuate based on demand and availability at the time of search. For example, the 7-day price in summer is likely to be more expensive than the same journey in winter.

Prices are sourced in GBP and converted to other currencies using the daily market exchange rate.

We're always seeking to improve how price-checking works, and we welcome feedback on how we can make it better.

More advice about how to find the cheapest tickets can be found in our infographic.

  1. Cheapest Price $22.67
  2. 30 day advance $30.92
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  • First train
    05:44
  • Last train
    21:52
  • Avg changes
    0
  • Fastest journey
    1hr 8m
  • Distance
    122 kilometres
  • Trains per day
    40
  • Avg. journey time
    1hr 46m
  • Train operators

Travelling from Brussels to Rotterdam by train

Fast trains from Brussels to Rotterdam take around 1 hour and 8 minutes, covering a distance of approximately 122 kilometres. There are frequent services on the rail route between Brussels and Rotterdam.

1. Are there direct trains from Brussels to Rotterdam?

Direct trains from Brussels to Rotterdam have been found.

We usually find around 39 direct trains on the route from Brussels to Rotterdam every weekday.

Trains are typically more frequent on weekends, when we found around 44 departures.

2. How long is the train journey from Brussels to Rotterdam?

The Brussels to Rotterdam train travel time is normally about 1 hour and 8 minutes, whatever time you make the journey.

3. What are the Brussels to Rotterdam train times and schedule?

On weekdays the earliest direct train to Rotterdam is usually scheduled to depart Brussels around 05:45 and the last train is around 21:52. At weekends the first train of the day leaves Brussels around 05:44, and the last at 21:52.

What's the Brussels to Rotterdam train price?

The earlier you book the better, and the cheapest tickets we've found for trains from Brussels to Rotterdam are $22.67.

Trains departing 30 days in advance will cost around $30 while booking 7 days in advance the price is around $24. Booking on the day of travel is likely to be more expensive, so it is worth booking in advance if you can to save money.

When to book Brussels to Rotterdam train tickets?

Trains for this journey usually open for booking around 12 months in advance. If booking is not yet open for your dates then you can set a booking alert to receive an email on the day that the cheapest tickets are released for your journey from Brussels to Rotterdam by train.

Help with booking alerts

Which train companies operate between Brussels and Rotterdam?

More than one train company operates on the route from Brussels to Rotterdam, so you’ll be travelling with one or more of the following rail operators:

  • Eurostar
  • InterCity
  • Intercites
  • Intercités
  • THA
  • Thalys

You can check which train you’ll be travelling on by looking for the train name in search results.

Rotterdam to Brussels by train

Other journeys to Rotterdam View all journeys to Rotterdam

Thalys, Eurostar or Intercity

It is easy to travel by train from Brussels to Rotterdam. Belgium and the Netherlands are both members of Schengen so, while there may be some light-touch security checks on the train, there are no frontier formalities as such.

The number of daily trains serving the Brussels to Rotterdam route has more than doubled since late 2014, so passengers are now really spoilt for choice. You can opt for either a premium Thalys train, an occasional Eurostar or the slower Intercity (IC) service. The Thalys and Eurostar trains must be pre-booked and each ticket includes a seat reservation. The IC option allows you to be totally flexible as tickets are not tied to a specific train service.

Brussels to Rotterdam

There are generally two trains each hour from Brussels to Rotterdam. All trains leave from Brussels Midi station. One train each hour is an Intercity service which is comfortable but slow. It makes half a dozen stops along the way including a very useful alternative Brussels pickup point at Brussels Central, close to the Grand Place in the heart of the city. This train also stops at Brussels National Airport.

The other hourly train on this route is a high-speed service usually operated by Thalys, but with an occasional Eurostar on the route too. Thalys trains make just one stop; that’s at Antwerp. The Eurostar runs non-stop. Thalys and Eurostar trains take 70 minutes for the run from Brussels Midi to Rotterdam Centraal. That’s an hour faster than the Intercity. All trains from Brussels run to Rotterdam Centraal Station, from where it is just a short tram ride south to the central district and the complex of museums and galleries around Museumpark.

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Child and youth passengers

The definition of "Child" and "Youth" varies by country and operator. This is why we ask for the age of young passengers.

Sometimes children below a certain age can travel without a seat for free. If you want to guarantee a seat for child passengers, enter '6' as the age of the child.

Read more about child and youth passenger ages. See also youth discounts and railcards.