unaS

Hi,

I have found that in the Netherlands I am eligible for a senior discount on the national bus line.

If I want to take a bus from Amsterdam to the Belgian border, in order to travel onwards from there to Brugge, where would I get off the bus? Is there an easy connection from there to Brugge, either by bus or train?

How do I cross the border?

Is it complicated?

I am not an EU citizen.

Thanks.

GeoffHamer

There is no national bus line in the Netherlands. Buses are for local journeys. For Amsterdam-Brugge, you should take trains.

PalenqueBob

How many days do you have to go by bus from Amsterdam to the Dutch border? By bus you'd probably have to change about 20 times as as Geoff says, these are local buses that generally go where trains do not.

there may be some Amsterdam-Paris buses but these are not part of the national Dutch bus system.

TimS

You could take a Eurolines bus from Amsterdam to Antwerp and a train from there to Brugge. See www.eurolines.com for timetables and fares.

But it would be easier--and proably not a lot more expensive--to take an InterCity train from Amsterdam to Antwerp and another InterCity train from Antwerp to Brugge. See www.bahn.de for the timetables.

TimS

I decided to dig a little deeper.

A 2nd class ticket on an InterCity train from Amsterdam to Antwerp costs E27.40. A regular senior ticket on the Eurolines bus costs E17.00, but there is a senior promo fare of E12.00 (booked online in advance).

A 2nd class ticket on an Antwerp-Brugge InterCity train costs E12.40.

unaS

Thanks Tim,

Can you give me the URL?

Meanwhile I also found that if I take the train from Amsterdam to Roosendal I can get the senior discount for that leg of the trip and then pay full fare only after I have crossed into Belgium for the Roosendal to Brugge leg.

TimS

Eurolines: www.eurolines.com
Dutch rail: www.ns.nl
Belgian rail: www.b-rail.be

nbujic

if you don't mind the cost, there is a tour (bus) from Amsredam to Brugge.
It makes a stop in Antwerp.

LarryJ

I think this is a case where money is the least important factor. The train is so much more convenient and quicker than buses. Your time is certainly worth something.

Enjoy Brugge and Amsterdam. Both are great cities.

Larry J

WallyKringen

If you qualify for senior discount on the Dutch side, probaly ditto on the Belgian side. Have you checked?

unaS

Thanks everyone. If I understand correctly the bus promo ticket or the senior discount will give me the best rate. Can't check yet because the dates for tickets only go up to the end of March, 2007. Maybe next month.

As I read it, and I may be wrong so please correct me if so, the bus is only 1 hour longer than the whole trip by train and saves me 15 Euro - which does make a difference to me.

In my case time is not money. I am on vacation, want to enjoy, not hurry.

Also I travel budget - on everything - or I don't travel at all. Even my flight is round-about becuase it saves me over US$100 to do it that way.

unaS

>>f you qualify for senior discount on the Dutch side, probaly ditto on the Belgian side. Have you checked?>>

The age for senior discount in the Netherlands is 60. In Belgium it is 65.
I fall in the middle

PalenqueBob

Q- does the bus drop you off at either Antwerpen Centraal or Berchem stations or, like in some cities, on a remote edge of the city - with a bit of a hassle getting to the train?