Paris to Amsterdam and Brussels by train: Eurostar times, fares and booking

By Ilyane, railway signalling engineer · Updated 7 October 2026

Paris to Brussels in 1 h 22, Paris to Amsterdam in about 3 h 20: both trips are direct Eurostar services from Paris Gare du Nord. There are up to 23 trains a day to Brussels on weekdays and around ten a day to Amsterdam. Fares start at €29 to Brussels and about €35 to Amsterdam when booked early. There are no border checks on these routes, so you can turn up 20 minutes before departure. Here is how to pick your train and pay less.

Paris–Brussels and Paris–Amsterdam at a glance

• Departs: Paris Gare du Nord, from the Eurostar platforms.
• Paris–Brussels: 1 h 22 to Brussels-Midi, up to 23 direct trains a day on weekdays (16 on Saturdays, 21 on Sundays), from €29.
• Paris–Amsterdam: around 3 h 20 to Amsterdam Centraal, about ten direct trains a day, from around €35.
• Stops to Amsterdam: Brussels-Midi, then Antwerp, Rotterdam and Schiphol Airport depending on the train.
• Operator: Eurostar, which took over the Thalys brand and trains in 2023.

Before you travel

• ID: France, Belgium and the Netherlands are all in the Schengen area. EU travellers can use a national ID card; UK and other non-EU travellers need a passport.
• No border control: unlike London–Paris, there is no security screening or passport check before boarding. Arriving 20 minutes before departure is enough.
• Luggage: bags are not weighed, but there is an allowance per passenger. Check your ticket conditions if you travel with several large suitcases.

Standard, Plus or Premier?

• Eurostar Standard: the cheapest, with Wi-Fi, power sockets and a café bar. Plenty for both Brussels and Amsterdam.
• Eurostar Plus: wider seats, more space and a light meal at your seat. Worth it on Paris–Amsterdam at mealtimes.
• Eurostar Premier: full meal, lounge access and fully flexible tickets, mainly for business travel.

How to pay less

• Book early: fares rise as the train fills up. A few weeks to a few months ahead is ideal.
• Avoid Friday evenings and Sunday afternoons: these are the busiest trains, with business travellers and weekenders.
• Compare departure times: with more than 20 trains a day to Brussels, leaving an hour earlier or later can halve the fare.
• Use the intermediate stops: for Rotterdam or Schiphol there is no need to change, the same Eurostar stops there.

Where to buy tickets

Our tip: start with a comparison site to see every departure of the day and its fare, then book the cheapest train that suits you.

Where to stay in Brussels and Amsterdam

In Brussels, the historic centre around the Grand-Place is ten minutes from Brussels-Midi by metro or tram. In Amsterdam, hotels near Centraal station put the whole city within walking or tram distance. See hotels in Brussels · See hotels near Amsterdam Centraal

Four networks in one trip: an engineer's view

Between Paris and Amsterdam the train crosses three countries and changes power supply and signalling several times. In France it runs on the LGV Nord, powered at 25 kV AC with TVM 430 cab signalling, then onto the Belgian high-speed line to Brussels, which uses the same system. Through Brussels and on Belgian conventional lines, power switches to 3 kV DC with the Belgian TBL1+ safety system.

North of Antwerp, the Belgian high-speed line and the Dutch HSL-Zuid use 25 kV and European ETCS signalling, with no lineside signals on the Dutch section. The final approach to Amsterdam is on the Dutch conventional network at 1.5 kV DC with the ATB system. The former Thalys trains are therefore multi-voltage units carrying half a dozen different safety systems, a clear example of what ERTMS is meant to simplify, as shown by ProRail's ETCS pilot in the Netherlands.

Eurostar's network keeps evolving, and new operators are preparing to compete on its routes, as covered in our article on Eurostar's future rivals from 2029.

Frequently asked questions

How long is the train from Paris to Brussels?
1 h 22 on a direct Eurostar from Paris Gare du Nord to Brussels-Midi.

How long is the train from Paris to Amsterdam?
About 3 h 20 on a direct Eurostar to Amsterdam Centraal.

How much are tickets?
From €29 to Brussels and around €35 to Amsterdam when booked early, often over €100 at the last minute.

Key takeaways

• Paris–Brussels in 1 h 22, up to 23 Eurostar trains a day on weekdays, from €29.
• Paris–Amsterdam in about 3 h 20, around ten direct trains a day, from about €35.
• Stops at Antwerp, Rotterdam and Schiphol with no change.
• No border checks: arrive 20 minutes before departure.

Read also

• London to Paris by train: Eurostar fares and booking guide
• Paris to Barcelona by train: direct TGV fares and booking guide

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Sources: Eurostar, Kombo, SNCF Connect.

AI-generated illustration.