Antwerp

Antwerp is easily reached in under an hour and a half from central Netherlands or Brussels. Both Eurostar and frequent EuroCity Direct trains run throughout the day. Main departure and boarding stations for the Eurostar / EuroCity Direct include:

• Brussels-South (Midi) (0h 24m, direct)
• Rotterdam Central (0h 32m, direct)
• Eindhoven Central (1h 10m, direct)
• Liège-Guillemins (1h 12m, direct)

Tickets start from €19.00 when booked 1 to 3 months in advance. Last-minute fares can rise to €45.00, so booking early saves around 58% (€26). Budget road options include Flixbus or multi-leg budget connections.

You arrive at Antwerpen-Centraal, renowned as one of the world's most breathtaking railway cathedrals. From the grand hall, the De Lijn Tram & Pre-metro connects directly to the Grote Markt and Meir, or pick up a city bike from Velo Antwerpen.

Driving to Antwerp requires roughly 1h 23m (~133 km). Beyond roughly €17 for fuel (assuming 6.5 L/100 km, or ~€10 for EV charging (19 kWh/100 km)), central parking costs €24 per day in the city center (or ~€2 per day at a peripheral P+R). For a weekend trip (round-trip fuel, any tolls, and 48 hours of central parking), total driving costs amount to ~€82 (~€68 for an electric car). no route tolls (toll-free on Belgian motorways). Note that the Antwerp Low Emission Zone (LEZ, free online registration required for foreign plates) is strictly enforced. EV chargers can be found via this link.