Day trip from The Hague to Brussels or Bruges - possible?
 

Seeking for advice whether to visit Brussels or Bruges. Idea is to make it as a day trip from The Hague.

Also, would anyone know how much it would cost (train ticket) from THe Hague to either Brussels or Bruges?

Appreciate advice :)

probably bout $60 return 2nd class

Bruges- take IC train hourly to Antwerp, change for train to Bruges - about 2.5 hrs all told

Brussels - IC hourly trains direct Den Hague H.S. station (there is the Hollands Spoor or H.S. station, which is on the mainline Amsterdam-Antwerp-Brussels then there is Den Hague C.S. or Centraal Station which is on a sideline) to Brussels - probably about 2 hrs each way

Soon when the new Dutch high-speed line is opened later this year times may decrease.

I'd chose Bruges, exceptionally lovely city over Brussels - a big city that is lacking much of the old-world dreamy look found in Bruges. Avoid Bruges on weekends if possible when perhaps too many tourists descend on it.

When the new high speed train starts Den Haag will be dropped as a stopping point for trains to Brussels!
It takes about 2hours 10 minutes to Brussels. You should leave from Den haag HS not Centraal. If the train is a Thalys you will need to book it.
It takes over three hours to Brugge and you need to change at Antwerp.
Cant help with the price, NS.nl won't give them because you may be on a Thalys.

Thanks PalenQ & hetismij! You've been most helpful

hetismij: Danku very well for the correction about new High Speed line not going via Den Hague. I should have known that since i've been tracking this new high-speed line for years now.

I am also interested in taking a day trip to either Brussels or Bruges over the weekend (leaving Sat. morning and returning Sun. evening), but not sure which option is best, given the short time period to explore the art and culture of these two cities. Potentially I could spend all day Sat. in Brussels, visiting the museums and doing more sightseeing. Since I really would like to see Bruges (and possibly Ghent) on this trip, I will most likely go there on Sunday morning before taking a train Bruges (or Ghent) back to Den Haag. There is also an option to skip any overnight stays in Brussels and make a day trip out of it. What your thoughts are on this? I am looking for the most budget-friendly option that would give me an opportunity to see the city. I suppose the latter option will be most costly and time consuming.

Also, just curious if there is a new high-speed training some people mentioned earlier is operating and what station is Den Haag is better to take for trips to and from Amsterdam, Brussels, etc.

Either of Den Hague's two main train stations - Centraal or H S (Hollands Spoor) are good for trains to Amsterdam but if going south to Brussels many trains will only serve the Den Hague H S station - there are some Thalys trains right from Den Hague H S now and there are plenty of local IC trains going to Antwerp (change there for Bruges) or Brussels - cheaper on a walk up basis than Thalys which have a Byzantine fare structure with walk ups paying a lot more than early bird get the worm folks who nab the limited innumber cheap seats months in advance. Check out these IMO fantastic sites on European trains - www.seat61.com; www.rickst4eves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com. If doing exgtensive day trips around Belgium and Netherlands then investigate the Benelux Railpass which lets you just hop on any train anytime (except Thalys which you never have to take as IC trains operate similar routes albeit at lower speeds.

It's 37.8 euros 2nd cl.

Oh, it's also 3-1/2 hours on the regular train, 2-1/2 on the Thalys, which is 51.7 euros.

Sorry, Thalys is 72 euros going, there is a 51 euro return trip.

Thanks for the input! I might look into the inner-city trains. Look a lot cheaper to me.
p.s. did you find the 37.80 euros one-way fare on the http://www.ns.nl/en/travellers/home site?

I found it on here (the ns.nl site said "No Advice Found"):

https://treintickets.nshispeed.nl/d-...eferences.html

IC trains are a bit slower but so so nice because with a flat fare you can just buy your ticket in Holland - there are no seat reservations possible I believe and trains like those cannot really sell out.

Bruges is nice but there are other nice cities much closer to Amsterdam that coculd be much quicker and cheaper to get to - I've been to Bruges many times and it is really nice but IMO too expensive a day trip and other places, like Delft or even Haarlem on Amsterdam's periphery are also sweet.