To the airport by public transport or car?
The trip to the airport partly determines your total travel cost and how relaxed you set off. Train, bus, car or taxi: each Dutch airport has a smartest option. Here's the overview.
Turn this guide into a trip: plan flight, hotel and total price
Quick answer: Schiphol is the only Dutch airport with a train station under the departure hall; the train is almost always faster and cheaper than driving and parking. Eindhoven Airport has no train: bus 400/401 from Eindhoven Centraal takes about 25 minutes. Rotterdam is reachable by metro and bus from Rotterdam Centraal in 20-25 minutes. Airport Weeze (just across the German border) is easiest by car, with cheap nearby parking.
Schiphol: the train usually wins
Schiphol has its own train station under the departures hall, with direct connections from across the country. You're often cheaper and faster by train than parking for a week. Travelling as a group or living remotely? Then car plus cheap shuttle parking can pay off. More in our Schiphol guide.
Eindhoven: bus or car
Eindhoven Airport has no train station, but bus 400 and 401 run directly from Eindhoven Central station in about 25 minutes. Coming by car? Reserve a cheap car park in advance. See our Eindhoven guide.
Rotterdam: metro and bus
Reach Rotterdam The Hague Airport by metro plus bus from Rotterdam Central in 20-25 minutes. The airport is compact and the car parks are close by, so the car works well here too. See our Rotterdam guide.
Brussels: train to Zaventem, car to Charleroi
Brussels Airport (Zaventem) has a train station under the terminal with connections from the Netherlands. Brussels South Charleroi is reached by shuttle bus from Brussels-South or by car. For travellers from the southern Netherlands, Brussels is sometimes as close as Schiphol.
Weeze: mostly the car
Weeze Airport lies just across the German border and is easiest to reach by car, via Nijmegen or Venlo. Parking is cheap. There are shuttle and bus connections too, but the car is usually most convenient for travellers from the east and south of the Netherlands.
Work out the total cost
Don't just compare the fare, but the total cost: a train return for the whole group versus car plus fuel plus parking for the number of days. For one or two people the train often wins; with four people or lots of luggage the car can be cheaper.
Ready to plan?
Open the trip planner and pick your departure point. Combine this with our guides on cheap parking and how early to arrive for a smooth start.
Want to know what your trip would cost? CheapTrips builds a complete proposal in seconds, with a flight from the Netherlands, a hotel and the total price per person.
Plan your tripBook your stay
Turn this guide into a complete trip: flight from the Netherlands, hotel and total price per person.
Plan your complete tripIf you book through a partner we earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get to Schiphol cheapest?
Usually by train: Schiphol has a station under the departures hall and you're often cheaper and faster than parking for a week.
Does Eindhoven Airport have a train station?
No. Bus 400 and 401 run directly from Eindhoven Central to the airport in about 25 minutes.
Is the car or the train cheaper to the airport?
For one or two people the train often wins; with four people or lots of luggage the car plus cheap parking can work out cheaper. Work out the total cost.
How do I get to Weeze Airport?
By car across the border via Nijmegen or Venlo; parking is cheap. There are also shuttle and bus connections from the Netherlands.