If you want to visit Amsterdam and Brussels, you need to plan your trip in advance and decide on the transport. Traveling in Europe is a comfortable ride. Do not be afraid to organize it yourself.
Amsterdam…
And immediately there are numerous associations with this city. For some, this is art, magnificent architecture, for others, freedom of expression through clothing, music and nightlife. Free from prejudice, the city attracts thousands of tourists. Many people think about how to plan their vacation or trip in order to cover the nearest cities as much as possible for an overview of Western Europe.
Car rental
If you arrived in Amsterdam and are going to Brussels, you can rent a car directly at the airport, thereby saving you money on transfers and travel to the city. You can pick up a car in advance through the Expedia aggregator.
From the documents you need to have a driver's license, a passport and a personalized bank card, from which the amount of rent and deposit will be debited (about200 euros). Almost all companies charge young drivers under the age of 25 for insurance, and in addition to the age they will charge for driving less than one year, up to a maximum of 25 euros per day.
Also, when signing a rental agreement, rental companies provide an unlimited number of kilometers included in the price, but do not forget to inform the manager that you are planning to travel outside the country. And return the car with a full tank, as rental companies charge around 4.5 euros per litre.
Hertz can issue a Nissan Micra 2018 car with a good multimedia system, including navigation, when choosing an economy class car. Fuel consumption is an average of 4.8 liters per hundred kilometers, which is extremely important when traveling around Europe. The cost of gasoline is on average 1.5 euros per liter.
Parking lots
In the city of Amsterdam it is easy and without traffic jams to travel by car. But very expensive parking rates. There is absolutely no free parking in the center! To do this, the authorities organized convenient P + R (park and ride) parking lots on the outskirts of the city. You leave your car in one of the 7 car parks and go to the center by tram or bus. The main thing when traveling to the center and back is to make a CheckInn / CheckOut ticket when boarding and leaving the transport.
From Brussels to Amsterdam, the distance by car is covered in 2.5 hours. This is about 215 kilometers, taking into accountlack of traffic jams, which are more in Brussels than in Moscow. In this regard, consider the time of departure from the city and do not plan for morning and evening rush hours. It is also better to make a couple of stops in wonderful cities.
Route
When planning a route from Amsterdam to Brussels by car, you have the opportunity to freely choose interesting places, as well as cities where you can make both short and long stops to go shopping and take pictures of sights.
You can create your own tour Amsterdam - Brussels by car through the cities: Amsterdam - The Hague - Rotterdam - Breda - Antwerp - Mechelen - Brussels.
Track
The E19 and A27 highways you will drive through are in excellent condition. They are clean, there are easy to read markings, road signs and signs. Plus, these trails are free. There is only one paid section through the Liefkenshoek tunnel, near Antwerp. You can only overtake in the left lane. The speed limit is adequate according to the traffic situation, but different in Belgium and the Netherlands. For example, on the motorway in the Netherlands the limit is 130 km/h, and in Belgium it is 120 km/h. For exceeding the speed limit by more than 20 km / h, the violator will be issued a fine in the amount of 70 euros or more.
Stops
There are many gas stations along the way that sell coffee to go and light snacks. Also paying 0.5 euros you can use the toilet. Payment for fuel by bank card is made directly onpetrol station. First you insert the card, and then you refuel. For cash payment, go to the mini market located at the gas station.
Let's take a closer look at several cities from the list above.
Antwerp
Halfway there will be a port city, the diamond capital of the world - Antwerp. The second most important city after Brussels and the largest city in Flanders where the Dutch language is spoken.
According to statistics, 65% of uncut gemstones are processed and sold in one of Antwerp's quarters. There are hundreds of workshops, four trading exchanges and more than fifty shops that offer diamonds of various shapes, colors and carats for purchase. Prices range from democratic to unthinkably high.
The port located here is one of the largest in Europe in terms of cargo transportation. Near it is the red light district.
The main square of Antwerp is the Market Square (Grote Markt) where you will see:
- town hall;
- guild buildings;
- Cathedral of the Virgin Mary in the Gothic style;
- Brabo Fountain.
There are cozy cafes on the square where you can taste Belgian beer, which is considered one of the best in the world and has more than 200 types. By law, 0.5 ppm is allowed while driving. This means that one glass of beer can be afforded without breaking the law.
Mechelen
It's worth stopping in Mechelen to see Belgium's main Gothic landmark, St. Rombouts Cathedral.
Also worth a visit to see one of the oldest breweries in Belgium. The first production of beer was recorded in 1386.
Brussels
The administrative part of the city houses the headquarters of the European Union, the NATO office, the secretariat of the Benelux countries, and more than 30 famous sights here:
- Brussels City Hall;
- Atomium;
- "Bread House - King's House";
- Royal Palace;
- Palace of Justice.
You can also admire the fountains, among which the most famous is Manneken Pis. There are many other architectural monuments in Brussels. There are museums, cathedrals and parks here, so the traveler will not be bored in this city.
The smell of the famous Belgian chocolate and waffles is in the air of central Brussels.
Back to Amsterdam
You already know how to get from Brussels to Amsterdam from the text above, and on the way back you can choose the shortest route without stopping along the A27 and E19 highways.
Bus
The cheapest way to get from Amsterdam to Brussels is by bus.
Yes, not a fast way, but the time difference is only one hour, and the cost is about 3-4 times cheaper than a similar train journey. During the trip, you can calmly and carefully look throughwindow, the enchanting scenery of these two countries. From Amsterdam to Brussels, the bus travels from 2.5 to 4.5 hours. The distance between cities is about 215 km. Buses run from 00:25 to 22:10. Some flights have intermediate stops.
Currently, several companies offer their comfortable buses. Also, from Brussels to Amsterdam, a bus on some routes passes through the airports of these cities.
- FlixBus (off. site) daily 7-8 flights a day, tickets - from 11 EUR. In Amsterdam, the main departure is from the Sloterdijk bus station. Brussels stops at Bruxelles-Nord and Bruxelles-Midi stations and Zaventem airport
- Eurolines (website in English) 8-9 flights per day, tickets - from 18 EUR. In Amsterdam, the main departure point is Duivendrecht. In Brussels - Bruxelles-Nord and Bruxelles-Midi stations and Zaventem airport.
- Ouibus (website in English) 3 flights a day, tickets from 11 EUR per trip. In Amsterdam, the main departure is from the Sloterdijk bus station. In Brussels, the main destinations are Bruxelles-Nord and Bruxelles-Midi stations and Zaventem airport.
No matter what mode of transport you choose, there are plenty of attractions in any city. After such a trip, there is always something to remember.
