Travelers journeying between Amsterdam and London can utilize a seven-day Eurail pass to take unlimited trains through the Netherlands and Belgium, breaking up the trip with stops in historic cities like Delft and Bruges without needing advance point-to-point tickets.
Slow Rail Travel Across European Borders
The journey from Amsterdam to Brussels takes 90 minutes direct, but a flexible pass allows travelers to hop off along the route. Fingers drift across the Interrail app map at a canalside cafe in Amsterdam before an internet search points toward Delft instead of Rotterdam.
First-class carriages offer quiet, empty spaces with views of blonde fields, red-roofed cottages, and grazing animals.
A digital board displays upcoming stops while a lilting voice announces them.
“What about Delft?” the traveler proposes, pointing to photos of tiny canals and cobblestone laneways, as reported by the NZ Herald.
Delft Porcelain and Canals Without Crowds
Delft feels like a miniature Amsterdam without the massive crowds, featuring worn-stone streets and flower-boxed canals. A heatwave prompts a stop for iced coffees and tangy lemon bars at a canalside cafe. The Vermeer Museum displays the Girl with a Pearl Earring in its window, while nearby shops sell hand-painted blue-and-white porcelain.
Craftsmen work behind tables in tiny stores surrounded by thousands of white porcelain pieces, tiles, and teapots. Vendors sell crafts and fresh produce on the town square in the shadow of Nieuwe Kerk as church bells chime for 2.30pm. Phones tap to activate Interrail tickets for the next train moments before the doors close.
Wandering Through Medieval Bruges
Trains regularly make the 60-minute journey from Brussels to Bruges, a city boasting step-roofed houses, Unesco-recognised cobblestone streets, and glassy canals born from 13th- to 15th-century wealth. A walking tour meeting in Market Square reveals centuries of conquests by the French, Austrians, Spanish, and Dutch.
“Bruges was conquered by the French and then the Austrians,” explained Pedro during a walking tour of the city.
Visitors pass the 10th-century St Saviour’s Cathedral and the 800-year-old Church of Our Lady. Mariastraat features soft lemon and forest green shopfronts displaying gold-wrapped Belgian chocolates and waffles.
Michelangelo’s Madonna in Historical Churches
The Church of Our Lady houses a small Madonna statue commissioned from Michelangelo for 50 gold ducats, roughly $22,000. It remains the artist’s only sculpture located outside of Italy. Decorative statues and water fountains carved with Madonnas watch over the city’s winding streets and historic bridges.
Market Square hosts a classical orchestra performing beside outdoor cafes as afternoon sun drenches the cobblestones. Travelers gather picnic supplies from a local market before heading to a lush park for a quiet afternoon nap.
Frequently Asked Questions About Eurail Passes
How many countries are covered by a Eurail pass?
The Eurail pass covers 33 countries across Europe for non-European residents.
How much did Bruges pay Michelangelo for the Madonna statue?
The city commissioned the artist for 50 gold ducats, which is roughly $22,000.
How long is the direct train ride from Amsterdam to Brussels?
The direct journey takes 90 minutes, though passholders can break up the trip with unlimited stops.
Worth a look