-
Our new ticketing site is now live! Using either this or the original site (both powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!
Train from Brussels to Amsterdam and Cologne
- Thread starter Gadget88
- Start date
- Status
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R
RailUK Forums
You do not need a passport to travel internationally within the Schengen zone but you would be unwise to travel without some official ID - for Brits this is a passport, though a photocard driving licence sometimes works.
The Low Countries are so named for a reason - largely pretty flat, which some find uninteresting. As well as Bruges, Antwerp and Ghent are I understand well worth visiting.
The line to Cologne runs through more hilly scenery (but partly in tunnel anyway), and Aachen is worth a stop-off.
BTW watch out for the variant French/Flemish/German spellings of place names.
The Low Countries are so named for a reason - largely pretty flat, which some find uninteresting. As well as Bruges, Antwerp and Ghent are I understand well worth visiting.
The line to Cologne runs through more hilly scenery (but partly in tunnel anyway), and Aachen is worth a stop-off.
BTW watch out for the variant French/Flemish/German spellings of place names.
coppercapped
Established Member
When in any of these countries you have to have some official identification. All Schengen means is that there are no checks at the border crossings but you still have to meet the internal rules of the country you are in.
So - carry your passport or at least, as 30907 wrote, a photocard driving licence.
Bruges/Brugge is well worth a visit - it's a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Brussel/Bruxelles/Brussels has a lot to offer - I would suggest getting a good tourist guide or reading about it on the WWW, for example here or search Wikipedia.
Aachen/Aken/Aix-la-Chapelle was Charlemagne's (Karl der Grosse's) capital but was largely rebuilt after the 2nd World War. There are still some old parts and the Cathedral (Dom) and the Cathedral's Schatzkammer (Treasury) are well worth visiting - most of Charlemagne is still in the Cathedral, in a sarcophagus about 15ft in the air...!
Enjoy your journey!
Last edited:
LNW-GW Joint
Veteran Member
The old line from Liege to Aachen is wooded and hilly, quite Pennine-like in places, with mill towns in the valleys.
Brussels-Namur-Luxembourg is similar, through the Ardennes.
There are different fare structures between Brussels and Amsterdam, depending on whether you travel on the new HSL or the old line via Roosendaal.
It's possible to pay far too much on the HSL.
Brussels-Namur-Luxembourg is similar, through the Ardennes.
There are different fare structures between Brussels and Amsterdam, depending on whether you travel on the new HSL or the old line via Roosendaal.
It's possible to pay far too much on the HSL.
swt class 450
Guest
- Joined
- 9 Apr 2016
- Messages
- 1,909
I think though in reality there is no need to carry a Passport or ID or Drivers License with you. I have done a large amount of travelling throughout the Schengen area (both by driving a car and by train and bus) without carrying any sort of ID on me (i usually leave it all in my hotel or wherever i am staying even if I'm gone for a few days) and never had a problem. I think it is just one of those silly pointless rules and laws that you can just ignore.
rf_ioliver
Member
- Joined
- 17 Apr 2011
- Messages
- 1,028
*Technically* you do have to carry some form of accepted ID, which for UK citizens means passport. While in the Schengen zone you don't need to show ID when crossing borders, it can be asked of you and the Schengen Agreement allows countries to temporarily put passport/ID controls back in place as Denmark has done and also France and Italy during some football tournament a few years ago.
t.
Ian
LNW-GW Joint
Veteran Member
In my experience passports/ID are regularly checked over the Germany-Denmark, Spain-Portugal and Switzerland-Italy rail borders (including customs checks).
Recent events, notably in Paris and Brussels, means that extra checks are likely.
Not in Schengen (yet), but last month passports were scanned/collected on the train by police over the Hungary-Romania and Romania-Bulgaria rail borders (both sides).
TheAlbanach_
Member
- Joined
- 1 Jul 2017
- Messages
- 142
Definitely visit Brugge! I was just there and I didn't really think much of Brussels, I would spent more time in the other cities to be honest. One day in Brussels was enough for me. The high speed line down to Liege was nice I done that on a ICE 3 last year, and Liege station is well worth a visit to see the architecture.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
coppercapped
Established Member
If you are stopped for any reason, such as a traffic accident or some check in a city or at a station and need to show papers and you don't have them on you, you might find life quite difficult for a while. You won't be allowed to wander off to the hotel by yourself to get the papers... In some places there are on the spot penalties to pay (not fines - these can only be levied by a court).
It all depends on your attitude to risk...
Had 2 intra schengen checks . Once between Bratislava and Vienna and between Salzburg and Munich .
duesselmartin
Established Member
I had checks in ICE from Brussels before
ChiefPlanner
Established Member
Always get checked firmly Prague - Dresden ....
PS - Ghent is even nicer than Brugges - less twee / touristy ....
PS - Ghent is even nicer than Brugges - less twee / touristy ....
Polarbear
Established Member
Whilst you can leave your passport at your hotel, (and I can understand why for personal security reasons), you can be asked to produce photo ID in several countries.
For example, I was in Switzerland recently & I was asked to produce my passport alongside my Inter Rail pass on one occasion. This is actually a requirement of the Inter Rail, but is rarely enforced.
In Germany, police will escort you to the location where your passport is held, if you aren't able to present it on demand. That's fine if you've got the time available, but if you have plans for the day, it could put a big dent into those if you had to go back to your hotel.
Personally, I don't think it is a good idea to suggest to newcomers to foreign travel that there is no need to carry full-blown national identification papers when travelling.
Specifically in relation to this thread, the Netherlands requires British Citizens to carry a passport as identification.
And for Germany:
"There’s no requirement to carry your passport with you, but the police are currently carrying out more frequent ID checks. If you’re asked to show your passport and you don’t have it with you, the police may escort you to wherever your passport is being kept so that you can show it to them." (UK Foreign Office)
.
Specifically in relation to this thread, the Netherlands requires British Citizens to carry a passport as identification.
And for Germany:
"There’s no requirement to carry your passport with you, but the police are currently carrying out more frequent ID checks. If you’re asked to show your passport and you don’t have it with you, the police may escort you to wherever your passport is being kept so that you can show it to them." (UK Foreign Office)
.
Last edited:
LNW-GW Joint
Veteran Member
Not exactly passport ID, but I was hospitalised in Budapest recently and spent the evening in A&E for checks (Honved military hospital - very impressive).
They admitted me, but as I left my EHIC card in my hotel bags they billed me for the treatment but said if I could produce it within 14 days they would withdraw the bills (as the NHS then pays).
After I got back to the hotel I emailed them a scan of my EHIC card and have heard nothing since, so hopefully the charge has been waived.
But I will be carrying my EHIC card (and passport and credit card) in future.
Make sure it is up to date!
They admitted me, but as I left my EHIC card in my hotel bags they billed me for the treatment but said if I could produce it within 14 days they would withdraw the bills (as the NHS then pays).
After I got back to the hotel I emailed them a scan of my EHIC card and have heard nothing since, so hopefully the charge has been waived.
But I will be carrying my EHIC card (and passport and credit card) in future.
Make sure it is up to date!
Any police officer in Belgium can stop you and ask you to prove your ID. Belgians have to carry their identity card with them at all times. Foreigners have to have a legal document with them too. It will normally not be possible to check-in in an hotel without it. Don't mess with that.
Envoyé de mon SM-T819 en utilisant Tapatalk
Envoyé de mon SM-T819 en utilisant Tapatalk
AlexNL
Established Member
- Joined
- 19 Dec 2014
- Messages
- 1,721
The same applies for the Netherlands, you must be able to ID yourself.
I was on the ICE from Brussels to Cologne last month - Belgian Police came though between Liege and Aachen and were asking people at random for their ID.
They seemed to ask about 12 people in the coach - I think one couple were removed from the train at Aachen as they didn't have any acceptable ID.
They seemed to ask about 12 people in the coach - I think one couple were removed from the train at Aachen as they didn't have any acceptable ID.
Ride around on the trams (in both cities).
TheAlbanach_
Member
- Joined
- 1 Jul 2017
- Messages
- 142
Heineken Experience, that was really good in Amsterdam. Also do a boat tour if you can, or even better hire your own boat and cruise around. I done that and it was amazing! If you like beer there's a brewery in a windmill called Brouwerij 't IJ, well worth a visit and they do little testers of their beers if you want to try them all.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
coppercapped
Established Member
It depends entirely where your interests lie!
There's the Köln - Düsseldorf cruises on the Rhine which are fun. In Cologne the Cathedral is right beside the Hbf and is well worth an hour or so. Next door is an excellent museum of Roman remains - Köln is a Roman town 'Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium' so shares the same name root as Lincoln.
There are not many old buildings in Köln - it was bombed flat in the war and was rebuilt in the late 1940s, early 1950s.
Try Kölsch beer - it comes in little glasses so you can drink it before the head vanishes. In a proper pub the default is that the waiter will continue to bring a replacement when your glass is empty until you say stop!
For trains the Hbf is very busy, but if you've got some time take a train to Koblenz down the west bank of the Rhine - that's the fairy tale stretch!
Enjoy the trip.
Last edited:
duesselmartin
Established Member
Cologne Catheral is a must. It can keep you busy for a long time. Also the brewery inns in the Altstadt are worth a visit for a tipple and meal.
The Germanic Roman museum is a good address for history interested people.
The Kolumba Museum for art . Anything from Cranach to contemporary. (closed on tuesdays).
Cologne also has a nice tram museum.
The cable car to the zoo over the Rhine got stuck more than once recently, so maybe not until that problem is investigated fully.
And there are always the wonderful KD pleasure boats on the Rhine.
The Germanic Roman museum is a good address for history interested people.
The Kolumba Museum for art . Anything from Cranach to contemporary. (closed on tuesdays).
Cologne also has a nice tram museum.
The cable car to the zoo over the Rhine got stuck more than once recently, so maybe not until that problem is investigated fully.
And there are always the wonderful KD pleasure boats on the Rhine.
paddington
Member
- Joined
- 19 Feb 2013
- Messages
- 964
To everyone reporting having their ID checked, was it train conductors checking, or the local police?
As Romania and Bulgaria are not in Schengen, it would be surprising if passports were not checked when crossing those borders, just like you need to go through immigration control when crossing the English Channel.
I think this is more for revenue protection / policy of CD that ID is checked when using a named ticket.
Recently, I have used SBB, DB and NS named tickets and conductors did not ask for ID despite the ticket requiring ID checks, but CD always asked.
I have only been asked for ID to check into a Belgian hotel once (out of about 10 times staying overnight there). I was using a large amount of hotel reward points to get a free stay that would have been quite expensive otherwise. The front desk staff apologised for asking for ID but said that they needed to make sure that I had not stolen someone else's points, because the hotel chain had recently suffered many fraudulent free stay redemptions. My wife, who was staying with me, did not show her ID to anybody in Belgium at all.
As Romania and Bulgaria are not in Schengen, it would be surprising if passports were not checked when crossing those borders, just like you need to go through immigration control when crossing the English Channel.
I think this is more for revenue protection / policy of CD that ID is checked when using a named ticket.
Recently, I have used SBB, DB and NS named tickets and conductors did not ask for ID despite the ticket requiring ID checks, but CD always asked.
I have only been asked for ID to check into a Belgian hotel once (out of about 10 times staying overnight there). I was using a large amount of hotel reward points to get a free stay that would have been quite expensive otherwise. The front desk staff apologised for asking for ID but said that they needed to make sure that I had not stolen someone else's points, because the hotel chain had recently suffered many fraudulent free stay redemptions. My wife, who was staying with me, did not show her ID to anybody in Belgium at all.
Last edited:
duesselmartin
Established Member
I had Belgian Police checking on board ICE before.
In Cologne, you can walk the bridge that the trains use to cross the Rhine river. Trains pass you on 6 tracks just separated from the walkway by a little fence. With more than 1000 trains per day the spectacle is permanent and impressive. It's easy to find and indicated on Google Maps. Visible on Google street view too, have a look.
Envoyé de mon SM-T819 en utilisant Tapatalk
Envoyé de mon SM-T819 en utilisant Tapatalk
Last edited:
Gent is another really lovely city that's well worth a visit, and tends to be rather overlooked by tourists compared to Brugge.
- Status