Expansion of European international rail connections

Direct international train connections from the Netherlands and neighboring regions to various European cities are expanding, providing alternatives to air travel.

Due to railway construction between Hannover and Berlin, NS International is introducing direct ICE connections from the Netherlands to Hamburg starting October 2, 2026. This rerouting, expected to last until at least the end of 2027, will increase travel times to Berlin by approximately one hour and reduce daily train frequency from five to four. For travelers in regions such as Overijssel, the trip from Deventer to Berlin will increase from 4.5 hours to roughly 5 hours and 20 minutes. The service will initially stop at Hamburg-Harburg and Hamburg-Bergedorf before expanding to include Bremen Hauptbahnhof and Hamburg Hauptbahnhof on December 13. NS International director Heike Luiten noted that adding these cities has been a long-term goal to make European destinations more accessible and sustainable.

In Germany, Deutsche Bahn has launched a new direct ICE high-speed connection linking Cologne and Antwerp using ICE 3neo trains. Traveling via Aachen, Liege, Leuven, and Brussels Airport, this service provides the airport with its first direct connection to the international ICE network. Two pairs of trains will operate daily in each direction, with a combined ticket offered in collaboration with Brussels Airlines to explore replacing short-haul feeder flights.

Other established connections include high-speed services to Brussels and Antwerp via Eurostar, and sleeper trains to Vienna via ÖBB Nightjet. Future developments include planned direct services between Amsterdam, Copenhagen, and Malmö in the spring of 2028.