Hi,

We are travelling from Antwerp to Amsterdam on June 10, which is a Saturday. We were planning just to use the IC train. As I understand, you don't book seats just a ticket. Can you tell me whether these trains get booked out or should there be plenty of seats? We are travelling with luggage. Also we have booked a train ticket from Paris to Brussells, but we are staying in Ghent. Does this ticket allow us to go to Ghent as well or do we need to buy another Brussells to Ghent?

As you can probably tell we have never been to Europe, so would be grateful for any advice. We just need to make sure that we get to Amsterdam on the Saturday.

Cheers

Sally

Normally you through book a ticket to your final destination. If you did not, you probably have to purchase a separate ticket to get from Brussels to Ghent.

If your ticket is a Thalys, check if it says 'ABS' for any belgian station. If so ... no prob, change trains at Bruxelles Midi and go to Gent (Flemish spelling, no 'h').

From Antwerpen (Flemish sp) you board a IC train to Amsterdam - you are not linked to a special train, at a specific schedule. And no, I have never seen trains totally full in Belgium.

Exception : the first trains leaving Louvain La Neuve after the 24 heures de vélo at the university. Students board it en masse to go back home, passably plastered. I didn't find a seat at the time, but ended up sleeping in the middle of the coach, so... but you aren't going to such an orgy...

IC train on Saturday; should be OK to find a seat.
You can also book Thalys, which is much faster but more expensive. On Thalys you have a reserved seat.

There's also the Flixbus between Antwerpen and Amsterdam. I hear this is quite popular among students now. On a Saturday the bus will take 2 hours - maybe 2,5. About the same as the train, at half the price.

For reference here and on future trips: www.seat61.com

Thanks everyone for your help - I have decided to use the IC and have pre-booked a ticket just for convenience �� Not sure whether I need to start a new topic under a different heading but does anyone know whether it is worth getting a skip the queue ticket for Versailles and organise a tour guide or just do the Audio guide on our own?

Better start a new topic for Versailles!

Have a good time in Antwerp. The summer bars are open. Hopefully you will have nice weather!
http://www.bocadero.be/en/

Thanks Tulip, will do.