European Rail Travel - BRU to Port of Rotterdam, Help please

Wife and I are planning a flight arriving at Brussels Airport (BRU) May 26th at 7:40am and need to get to the Port of Rotterdam to catch a Cruise on Holland America MS Rotterdam before ship is scheduled to leave (5:00pm) the same day.

Would this be a problem?

What is the best way to do this? Details would be appreciated.


Thank you.

You've got bags of time! Total travel time to Rotterdam Central Station is either just under or just over two hours depending on the type of train. You can find schedules at www.bahn.de

The cruise terminal web site (cruiseportrotterdam.com) mentions a free shuttle between the cruise terminal and the train station, so the last part of the journey should be straightforward too.

Thanks, Aviatrix, for your quick response.

Is there a multi stop function on www.bahn.de?

I think I go (not sure):

BRU -
Midi Station, Avenue Fonsny, Belgium -
Centraal Station, Deelgemeente Centrum-
Free shuttle

Thanks, Aviatrix, for your quick response.

Is there a multi stop function on www.bahn.de?

I think I go (not sure):

BRU -
Midi Station, Avenue Fonsny, Belgium -
Centraal Station, Deelgemeente Centrum-
Free shuttle

If that's a website producing those instructions, it's giving particularly obscure ones!

There are two types of train from Brussels to Rotterdam: the InterCity and the Thalys. The former is slightly slower, but has cheap walk-up fares and the latter is faster and has cheap advance purchase fares. However, the other advantage of the former is that it stops at three of the main Brussels stations: South (Midi), Central and North. As the airport train arrives at these stations in reverse order, you save doubling back on yourself. I'd add that neither North nor South stations are particularly pleasant places.

At Rotterdam, you'll arrive at Rotterdam Centraal (currently something of a building site, but a functional one at that). Ignore any other options for stations here.

The site http://www.nshispeed.nl/ will let you check times and prices, and let you book online. Do check ticket conditions, which are likely to be inflexible for cheaper Thalys fares.

Thanks, Stut

Appreciate the advice.

<...> However, the other advantage of the former is that it stops at three of the main Brussels stations: South (Midi), Central and North. As the airport train arrives at these stations in reverse order, you save doubling back on yourself. I'd add that neither North nor South stations are particularly pleasant places.

If you travel with luggage, North is not a good place to change trains. You'll have to carry your luggage down and up the stairs. Central has elevators, and South has both elevators and escalators.

I'll add that Central is probably the best (as in, the most pleasant) station of the 3 in Brussels (as long as you steer clear of the hallway leading towards the subway).
That said, if you plan on taking the regular train or the Thalys, you could look into taking the normal IC train from BRU Airport to Antwerp-Central and take the the Thalys or regular train from there on out. It'll avoid you having to double back to Brussels first and Antwerp-Central station is a ridiculously beautiful station.

edit: also, don't bother with the ticket machines for the train, they only take Belgian debit cards, just go directly to the ticket office

That said, if you plan on taking the regular train or the Thalys, you could look into taking the normal IC train from BRU Airport to Antwerp-Central and take the the Thalys or regular train from there on out.

This is new. Is the new line in operation now?

Added: I have just checked the schedules, and on May 26th (the OPs date) they still tell me to go to Brussels first before taking the train to Antwerp. Not sure what you are trying to tell the OP...?:confused:

This is new. Is the new line in operation now?

Added: I have just checked the schedules, and on May 26th (the OPs date) they still tell me to go to Brussels first before taking the train to Antwerp. Not sure what you are trying to tell the OP...?:confused:

I've just done the same, and got the same information - no direct trains from Brussels Airport to Antwerp.

So - for the OP... what you need to do is this:


Go to the train station at BRU. Buy a ticket to Rotterdam if you haven't already bought one online. I suggest you go for the ordinary (Intercity) train rather than the Thalys as it gives you more flexibility - tickets are valid on any train, no reservations required.

Get on the Brussels-bound train, get off at Brussels Central

At Brussels Central get on an Amsterdam-bound train, get off at Rotterdam Central (aka Rotterdam CS)


Find your shuttle bus



You will have plenty of time... enough to have a quick wander round Brussels if you're not too tired. Central Station is very close to Grand Place/Groote Markt, and I'm fairly certain that you can leave your baggage at the station.

This is new. Is the new line in operation now?

Added: I have just checked the schedules, and on May 26th (the OPs date) they still tell me to go to Brussels first before taking the train to Antwerp. Not sure what you are trying to tell the OP...?:confused:

My apologies, I misread the date as July 26th somehow (no idea why I did that) and since the new line is planned to open in June, I assumed the OP could use it.
That said, the NMBS/SNCB is currently conducting trials, so it won't be much longer until the new line opens. Just a shame it will be accompanied by a €5.10 surcharge one way (but that's another discussion entirely).

Once again, apologies to the OP for confusing you.

Thank again, everybody.

Aviatrix instructions seem easy. This will be my plan. :)

"Get on the Brussels-bound train, get off at Brussels Central At Brussels Central get on an Amsterdam-bound train, get off at Rotterdam Central (aka Rotterdam CS)
Find your shuttle bus"