Train travel in Belgium: a key chapter in European rail history
Belgium occupies a distinctive place in the history of European rail travel. Compact in size yet strategically located, the country has long played a central role in the development of passenger rail transport and continues today to function as a major railway crossroads in Europe.
Train travel in Belgium dates back to 1835, when the first railway line linking Brussels and Mechelen was inaugurated. This line is widely regarded as the first successful large-scale passenger railway service on the European continent. Its opening marked a turning point, demonstrating that rail travel could become a reliable and transformative means of transporting people over long distances.
This early achievement positioned Belgium as a pioneer of passenger rail transport. Today, the country benefits from a dense and well-integrated rail network, closely connected to those of its neighboring countries.
Traveling across Belgium by train
Belgium’s national railway company, SNCB (known as NMBS in Dutch), operates the majority of passenger rail services. The network is both dense and efficient, linking major cities such as Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, and Liège, while also serving smaller towns and more remote regions.
Train travel within Belgium is straightforward and well suited to visitors, with frequent services and relatively short travel times. Several railway lines are also appreciated for the landscapes they reveal along the way:
- The Brussels–Namur–Liège line follows river valleys and rolling hills
- The Brussels–Ghent–Bruges line crosses the Flemish countryside, with canals, fields, and historic towns
- The Liège–Luxembourg line passes through forested and hilly terrain
- The Dinant–Arlon line runs through the Ardennes, known for its wooded hills and winding rivers
- The Leuven–Hasselt line crosses the Limburg region, with orchards and open farmland
- The Mons–Tournai line offers pastoral Walloon landscapes
- The Eupen–Ostend line traverses both Flemish and Walloon countryside before reaching the North Sea coast
Beyond regular services, Belgium also offers a heritage railway experience: the Train du Bocq, a restored 1950s railcar that runs through the Ardennes and provides a slower, more traditional journey through rural scenery.
Reaching Belgium by train from neighboring countries
Belgium is easily accessible by rail from surrounding countries, making it a natural stop on a wider European journey. Since 1996, high-speed services operated by Thalys—now rebranded as Eurostar—have significantly simplified travel between France and Belgium.
From Paris, travelers can reach Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, and Bruges quickly and comfortably, without the need for air travel. These rail connections make Belgium particularly easy to combine with other destinations in Western Europe.
Belgium at the heart of Europe’s rail network
Belgium’s central geographical position has made it a key hub for international rail services. From Brussels, travelers can continue their journey by train to a wide range of European destinations:
- London, via Eurostar and the Channel Tunnel
- Germany, via ICE high-speed trains to Cologne and beyond
- The Netherlands, with frequent Intercity services to Amsterdam
- Luxembourg, via fast InterCity connections
- Austria and Switzerland, via overnight services such as Nightjet and EuroNight
This dense network reinforces Belgium’s role as a gateway for rail travel across Europe.
Belgium and the legacy of the Orient Express
While Belgium does not operate a luxury train today, it is closely linked to the history of one of the world’s most famous trains: the Orient Express.
The founder of the Orient Express, Georges Nagelmackers, was Belgian. In 1872, he established the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits (CIWL) in Belgium, a company specializing in luxury sleeping cars for trains across Europe.
In 1883, Nagelmackers launched the Orient Express, linking Paris to Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul). The train became synonymous with elegance, international travel, and refined service. As the birthplace of both its founder and the CIWL, Belgium remains deeply connected to the golden age of European rail travel.
