I'm taking the train from Bruge to Amsterdam on Saturday AM July 11. It looks to me like I have one option--7:50 AM that gets to Amsterdam at noon. I'm using the DB site and the site won't let you purchase the early morning train, only the later one. I guess I can call, but if one of the train experts could confirm that I have this right, I would appreciate it.
Pam
There are departures from Bruges to Amsterdam with a change in Brussels every hour. Typically the change is in Antewrp, but for July 11 the Belgian Rail site is only showing trains via Brussels...so there must be some kind of track working being done on the route to Antwerp on this particular weekend. For regular inter-city trains in Belgium and Holland you can't make advance reservations. Simply purchase your ticket at the station on the day of your journey; fare is 45 euros. From Brussels to Amsterdam you have the option of taking Thalys high-speed train instead of the IC train. Thalys shaves almost an hour off the journey time, but you have to make advance reservations to get the cheap fares:
At this late date the cheapest fare you can get for a Thalys train from Brussels to Amsterdam on 11 July is 54 EUR. The fare on IC trains from Bruges to Brussels is 12.90 EUR. So your fastest route will cost a total of 66.90 EUR.
I'd go with IC trains all the way for a total of 45.40 EUR.
Thanks all. I'll wait til I get there and book it then. I think that it's only about 40 minutes faster and gets in later.
Pam
