ATMs at Brussels train stations
 

Hello fellow travelers,
Does anyone know anything about ATMs at Brussels train stations? We will be arriving from London via Eurostar and I have heard about the difficulty with ATM machines there. I have a Bank of America ATM card and was hoping to use their affiliated bank atms - banque paribas, barclays or deutsche. It would be nice to be able to get some Euros right away. Any recent info on ATMs in Brussels wld be appreciated.

I believe it was Patrick who reported that an ATM-only card would not work in Belgium, you must have and Visa-logo ATM card to access ATMs there. You might do a search here for ATM and Belgium to read his reports in detail.

I was in Brussels in May 2005. On Eurostar, you'll arrive at Brussels-Midi station. To get to the old town, you'll need to change for a train to get to Brussels-Central station.

There are no ATMs inside Brussels Central train station.

When you exit Central station, the hotel (I forgot the name) across the street has a Citibank branch and ATMs. For some reason, my B of A ATM card didn't work at the Citibank ATM machines (I tried all of them), and ended up having to use it at a local bank ATM near Grand Place.

I'm not sure that's necessarily true. You might be able to get cash from a Citibank machine without a Visa logo. At any rate, our cards have the Mastercard (not Visa) logo and we do fine at the Citibank and Mistercash/Bancontact machines in Belgium (Citibank and Mistercash are different systems). No problems with either our U.S. or UK bank cards.
That said, I can't remember there being an ATM at Brussels Midi (where the Eurostar comes in), although there most probably is one. It wouldn't be my favorite place to use an ATM card, though, it has a good share of pickpockets and shady characters. I would get a few euros beforehand (maybe 20 or 25) and then find a machine elsewhere. We like to use the Fortis bank machines (the ones that can be used by customers and non-customers alike--be advised that many cash machines in Belgian are for that bank's customers ONLY) as they are the most high tech and let you pick the denomination of the bills you want.
Where will you be staying in Brussels...I could recommend some of the more reliable ATM locations near you (there are certain ATMs that are perennially out of cash or not working).

I do want to say that I never figured out why my B of A card didn't work at the Citibank machines. My card has the correct logo on. Maybe it was just me. My card worked when I used it at a different bank's ATM.

If your hotel is within walking distance from the train station, 1 option would be go to the hotel first, and then ask the front desk where the closest ATM machine is.

Hi,
There is an ATM at Brussels Midi station but it's not conveniently located, and there is often a huge queue. When you exit the Eurostar and arrive in the *main* station concourse, the ATM is right at the other end of the concourse (at the opposite end from where the Eurostar comes in), just outside the doors.

However, I'd take BTilke's advice and avoid using it (there are often a few dodgy looking types hanging round there). Why not get a few euros when you are waiting in the Eurostar lounge in Waterloo? I'm sure there is a Bureau de change there.

Elsewhere in Brussels, look for ATM machines with the "Mistercash" logo. These can be used with most foreign cards (Cirrus, Maestro, Visa, etc.) and aren't just for the customers of a particular bank.

Thanks for the responses. I will avoid the ATMs at the train station like the plague! WE are staying at the Marriott near Grand Place so we will have to transfer to another train to get to the Central Station. Is the hotel within walkable distance of the train station?

Hi,
If you want to take public transport to the hotel (I just looked up the address and it looks like it's on rue August Orts) then the easiest thing is to get the pre-metro (underground) tram to Bourse (3 stops) and then walk from there. It's a lot nearer than Central Station. There's a map of the metro/premetro network on the Brussels transport authority website: http://www.stib.irisnet.be/FR/31000F.htm

Or you could take a taxi - they really aren't expensive in Brussels.