Do I need to book train tickets from Bruges to Amsterdam in advance? Someone said that we can just buy tickets at InterCity train station to go from Bruges to Antwerp and then to Amsterdam. Is this still true? Can someone who traveled to Europe this year answer this question? Thanks in advance.

I traveled from Bruges to Antwerp in May by IC train. The seats were not reserved; you buy a ticket for a specific day and can ride any train that day. So, I'd say no advance purchase of that leg is required. Antwerp to Amsterdam? On Thalys? Can't help you there, might consider an advanced purchase. Perhaps there are other slower trains from Antwerp to Amsterdam that don't require advanced purchase.

We went from Bruges to Rotterdam via Antwerp last month and didn't need seat reservations although I understand seat reservations are required on the Thalys.

If you stick to the slower conventional InterCity trains Bruges-Antwerp-Den Haag-Amsterdam, reservations are neither necessary nor possible, and the price is fixed so there's no advantage in pre-booking.

Just turn up, buy a ticket and hop on.

On the other hand, if you want to use the high-speed Thalys trains between Brussels or Antwerp and Amsterdam, reservation is compulsory and fares work like air fares, cheap in advance, expensive on the day.

To check fares and buy tickets for both options, I'd use www.b-europe.com (Belgian Railways)

To force the journey planner to show the slower trains on the conventional non-high-speed route via Roosendaal, not just the faster Thalys-based options, enter 'Roosendaal' in the little 'via' box.

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@Man in seat 61 - thanks so much!