Take the InterCity train to The NetherlandsInterCity trains

You can take your bike on most trains. But conditions vary from one rail company to another:

Thalys

Folding bikes and bikes in a cover measuring a max. of 135 x 85 x 30 cm (both wheels unclipped) can be taken on the train free of charge, provided they are placed in the space reserved for luggage. This space can be found at the end of the carriages. Due to limited space, bikes which are not folded up or have not had their wheels unclipped are not allowed on board Thalys.

In France, all luggage (including bikes) that you place in luggage compartments must carry a label with your name and seat number. Labels are available free of charge at your station of departure.

TGV INOUI

Folding bikes and bikes in a cover measuring a max. of 120 x 90 cm (front wheel unclipped) can be taken on the train free of charge, provided they are placed in the space reserved for luggage. This space can be found at the end of the carriages. Due to limited space, bikes which are not folded up or have not had their front wheel unclipped are not allowed on board TGV.

All luggage (including bikes) that you place in luggage compartments must carry a label with your name and seat number. Labels are available free of charge at your station of departure.

Eurostar

Folding bikes can be taken free of charge as luggage on Eurostar if they are no more than 85 cm in length when folded. They must be placed in a protective cover covering the bike fully.

On the Paris-London route, normal bicycles can be transported through Eurostar's baggage check-in service if they are unclipped and packed, and if booked in advance via travelservices@eurostar.com. Until further notice, this service is not available in Brussels and Lille.

ICE

Folding bikes can be taken free of charge as luggage on ICE trains. However, due to limited space, non-folding bikes (even with front wheel unclipped) are not allowed on the ICE Brussels-Cologne-Frankfurt. To travel with your bike to Germany, take regional or InterCity trains instead, on which bikes are allowed.

Conventional InterCity and regional trains

On most InterCity and regional trains, you can take your bike (or tandem, tricycle or bicycle with a trailer) if you purchase a special bike ticket, available online, at our Contact Centre or at ticket offices of stations with international ticket sales.

As the number of spaces is limited, we recommend you travel at off-peak times. Loading and unloading bikes are the passenger's responsibility.

* For security reasons, the number of bicycles admitted on IC Netherlands (Brussels-Amsterdam) is limited to 4.

Due to increased traffic expected during the Summer, a reservation for your bike is mandatory when travelling on the IC Netherlands train from 1 July to 31 August 2023. This reservation will be available from 17 May online,through our contact center and at our stations with international ticket sales at the price of €4 each way per bike (in addition to the bike ticket at the price of €12). If you purchase your bike ticket online as from 17 May, this reservation supplement will be included automatically in the price of your bike ticket.

Nightjet

Taking your bicycle on Nightjet is only allowed on the trains equipped with a dedicated carriage for luggage and bicycles, with a compulsory reservation for a fixed price of €12 per bicycle each way. Such a carriage is available on the following connections:

• NJ 490 - Wien Hbf - Hamburg Hbf
• NJ 491 - Hamburg Hbf - Wien Hbf
• NJ 40420 - Innsbrück Hbf - Hamburg Hbf
• NJ 40491 - Hamburg Hbf - Innsbruck Hbf
• NJ 466 - Wien Hbf - Zürich Hb
• NJ 467 - Zürich Hbf - Wien Hbf

Taking your bicycle on the direct Brussels-Vienna connection is not allowed.

However, you can take a foldable bike with you as free hand luggage if it's folded and packed in a format that makes it possible to store it above your seat or in the luggage racks of couchette or seater compartments.

For security reasons, it is not allowed to remove the pedals and/or turn the steering rod, nor to leave your bicycle in the corridor or near the entrance doors of the train. 

On most trains, you can take your pet with you. But rules vary from one rail company to another:

"conventional" daytime trains (e.g. Intercity or regional trains) to/from Belgium

• Cats, small dogs and other small pets in a cage, basket or crate of max. 30 x 30 x 55 cm travel free and don't need a ticket. They must be carried on the traveller's lap or as hand luggage;
• Dogs wearing a muzzle, on a leash or on a lap require a specific flat-rate ticket (€6 per trip to / from the Netherlands, €7 from / to the North of France and €3 from / to the Luxembourg or Aachen). This ticket must be issued in the same travel class as that of the accompanying traveller (1st or 2nd class) and is sold online and at our stations selling international tickets;
• Guide dog accompanying a blind passenger: free and not having to wear a muzzle;

ICE and other trains operated by Deutsche Bahn

• Cats, small dogs and other small pets in a cage, basket or crate of max. 30 x 30 x 55 cm travel free and don't need a ticket. They must be carried on the traveller's lap or as hand luggage;
• Dogs wearing a muzzle, on a leash or on a lap require a ticket at 50% of the price of the accompanying traveller, in the same travel class (1st or 2nd class) as the latter. This ticket can be purchased online and at our stations selling international tickets;
• Guide dog accompanying a blind passenger: free and not having to wear a muzzle;

Thalys

• Cats and small dogs (less than 6 kg) in a cage or basket (max. 45 x 30 x 25 cm): free of charge and without a ticket
• Dogs wearing a muzzle, on a leash or on a lap: ticket at fixed price of €30 for any journey (in Comfort 1 and in Comfort 2), available on board from your Thalys train manager.
• Guide dog accompanying a blind passenger: free (muzzle compulsory).

Exception: animals are not allowed on board Thalys Snow and Thalys Sun.

Eurostar

Animals are not allowed on board Eurostar. Only guide dogs accompanying a blind passenger are authorised under strict conditions. They must have:

• an electronic chip
• a Certificate of Entry to the United Kingdom (available from the Ministry of Small Firms, Traders and Agriculture)
• a certificate of treatment against ectoparasites and endoparasites (available from the Ministry of Small Firms, Traders and Agriculture)
• a declaration to be filled out by the person taking the animal to the United Kingdom (this document can also be filled in on arrival in London)

A special free ticket is issued for the transportation of a guide dog accompanying a blind passenger.

TGV INOUI to/from Brussels

• Cats and small dogs (less than 6 kg) in a cage or basket (max. 45 x 30 x 25 cm): special ticket at fixed price of €12, available at the station Bruxelles-Midi/Brussel-Zuid or on board from your train manager;
• Dogs wearing a muzzle, on a leash or on a lap: special ticket for dogs (valid in 1^st or 2^nd class), available at the station Bruxelles-Midi/Brussel-Zuid or on board from your train manager.
• Guide dog accompanying a blind passenger: free and not having to wear a muzzle
• Max. 2 pets per traveller allowed

Overnight trains

• Cats and small dogs in a cage or basket: free
• Dogs wearing a muzzle, on a lead or on a lap: a 2^nd class ticket, priced at 50% off the adult fare, sold at our stations selling international tickets.
• Guide dog accompanying a blind passenger: free and not having to wear a muzzle
• Note: animals are only allowed in sleeping cars if you have booked a whole compartment yourself.

NS International - Regus Express lounges, situated at Amsterdam Central, Rotterdam Central and Schiphol stations are pleasant relaxing spaces, where you can relax or work whilst waiting for your train. They offer a Wi-Fi connection and meeting rooms.

These lounges can be used by:

• passengers with an international 1^st class ticket to or from the station concerned for the same day;
• members of a lyalty card of any Railteam partner.

Unlike most high-speed trains, InterCity and regional trains in Belgium and the Netherlands do not require a reservation. For these trains, you get an open ticket, valid on board any train on the date shown (at any time of day) and on the route as indicated on your ticket. Great flexibility!

Similarly, on IC and ICE trains run by Deutsche Bahn, seat reservation is optional. Consequently, most tickets for journeys in Germany do not necessarily show the time either. Remember though, that the Supersparpreis, Supersparpreis Europa and Sparpreis Europa economy fares do require you to use the specific train you chose when buying your ticket. In this case, the train number and time of departure are shown on your ticket.

If you're travelling by InterCity train between Belgium and the Netherlands, buy your tickets at least 7 days in advance: the Early Bird fare offers around 40% off for travelling from Monday to Thursday and around 20% off for travelling from Friday to Sunday (depending on the distance). 

If you're travelling between Belgium and Luxembourg, however, it may be cheaper to travel in the weekend: the Weekend fare offers 30% off your return journey from Friday to Sunday. And if you're younger than 26, the Youth fare will offer 30% off for travelling any day of the week.

If you're travelling between Belgium and Northern France with InterCity and TER Hauts-de-France trains, go for a return trip between Friday morning and Sunday evening: with the Weekend fare, you get 40% off. This Weekend fare applies to journeys to and from: Abbeville, Amiens, Annappes, Arras, Ascq, Aulnoye Aymeries, Baisieux, Béthune, Boulogne Ville, Calais Ville, Chantilly Gouvieux, Compiègne, Croix l'Allumette, Croix Wasquehal, Douai, Dunkerque, Etaples Le Touquet, Hellemmes, Le Cateau, Lens, Lezennes, Lille Flandres, Maubeuge, Noyon, Paris Nord (via Maubeuge/Aulnoye), Pont de Bois, Pont Ste Maxence, Roubaix, St Quentin (Aisne), Tourcoing, Valenciennes.

If you're younger than 26, there's a Youth fare for travelling between Belgium and the same destinations in Northern France. This Youth fare offers 30% off and is valid anytime.

For this type of train, there are no restrictions on the various fares. So you don't need to book ahead to get the best prices.

International season tickets are only available on the Brussels-Lille service (rail passes valid on TGV INOUI and Eurostar).

If you take the same journey regularly on a Thalys train, remember that Thalys offers several ThePass options (Premium or Frequent), which means you benefit from cheaper flexible fares. Check the Thalys website for more information about Thalys ThePass. 

And lastly, as part of our national service, there are various types of seasonal tickets that are valid until the border (as well as specific season tickets to the neighbouring cities of Aachen, Maastricht, Roosendaal, Lille, Luxembourg and Maubeuge/Aulnoye). They can be combined with a rail pass from another rail company to continue your journey in one of our neighbouring countries.

More information about NS railcards from the border to your destination in the Netherlands >