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Cross-border public transport

The government is promoting cross-border public transport. There are various train services running from the Netherlands to the neighbouring countries of Belgium and Germany, as well as to other European countries. These train services have different routes, different timetables and different rules and rates.

Travelling by train from Belgium, France and the United Kingdom

The Netherlands is easy to reach by train from Belgium, France and the United Kingdom. Options include:

  • the Intercity service departing from Brussels;
  • the Thalys service departing from various stations in France;
  • the Eurostar service departing from various stations in the United Kingdom;
  • the regional service between Liège and Maastricht;
  • the regional service between Antwerp and Roosendaal.

Central government and the province of Limburg are also currently assessing the feasibility of a direct Intercity link between Hamont (Belgium) and Weert.

Travelling by train from Germany

The Netherlands can be reached by train from nearly all major German cities, either directly or with one change. Options include:

Central government and the provinces of North Brabant and Limburg are currently assessing the feasibility of a direct Intercity link between:

  • Düsseldorf, Eindhoven and Venlo;
  • Aachen, Eindhoven and Heerlen.

Cross-border bus transport

There are bus services from other European countries to the Netherlands. Cross-border bus travel is a low-cost and sustainable way of travelling. Dutch cities can be reached easily from hundreds of departure points across Europe.

Cross-border bus transport is growing, with new operators now entering the market. It’s often possible to book tickets and pay online. The European Commission wants cross-border bus transport to be developed more quickly. To achieve this, the Commission is proposing to harmonise access to national bus markets. Negotiations on this proposal are expected to start in 2019.

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