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.
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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.
Overview: public transport costs per airport from the city centre
| Airport | PT connection | PT cost | Journey time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Schiphol (AMS) | Intercity, Sprinter, Thalys | €5.50 (single, OV-chipkaart) | 13-16 min from Amsterdam CS |
| Eindhoven (EIN) | Bus 400/401 from Eindhoven CS | €2.74-3.11 (OV-chipkaart) | 26-31 min |
| Rotterdam (RTM) | Metro line E + bus 33 | €2-3 (OV-chipkaart) | approx. 30 min from Rotterdam CS |
| Brussels Zaventem (BRU) | Airport Express train | €4.61 (single) | 22-24 min from Brussels-South |
| Charleroi (CRL) | Flibco shuttle bus | €14.99-23 (from) | 50-70 min from Brussels-South |
Schiphol: the train usually wins
Schiphol has its own train station under the departures hall (Schiphol Plaza), with direct intercity and sprinter services from across the country. A single OV-chipkaart trip from Amsterdam Centraal costs around €5.50 and takes 13-16 minutes. Intercities run twice an hour; night trains run on Fridays and Saturdays.
Parking at Schiphol costs €27-35 per day in P1/P2 or €13-18 per day at remote shuttle car parks. A week can easily cost €100-130 or more. For four or more people from a region with few train links, a cheap shuttle car park can make sense. More in our Schiphol guide.
Eindhoven: bus or car
Eindhoven Airport has no train station. Buses 400 and 401 run directly from Eindhoven Central station to the airport: every 15-20 minutes, journey time 26-31 minutes. With an OV-chipkaart you pay €2.74-3.11 (depending on check-in). Note: after 23:00 no regular buses run; then a taxi (around €18-22) or pre-booked transfer is needed.
Parking at Eindhoven Airport costs €7.50-9 per day in the P1 car parks close to the terminal; off-airport car parks start around €5 per day with a free shuttle. See our Eindhoven guide for current rates.
Rotterdam: metro and bus
Reach Rotterdam The Hague Airport by metro line E from Rotterdam Centraal towards Slinge (exit Meijersplein) then bus 33 towards Rotterdam Airport, around 30 minutes total. With an OV-chipkaart you pay around €2-3 for metro plus bus. The airport is compact and the car works well here too. See our Rotterdam guide.
Brussels: train to Zaventem, shuttle to Charleroi
Brussels Airport (Zaventem, BRU) has a train station under the terminal. The Airport Express runs four times an hour to Brussels-South, Brussels-Central and Brussels-North. A single ticket costs €4.61 and the journey takes 22-24 minutes. For travellers from the southern Netherlands this airport can be as fast to reach as Schiphol.
Brussels South Charleroi (CRL) is cheaper as an airport but the transfer is more expensive. The Flibco shuttle bus from Brussels-South costs €14.99-23 and takes 50-70 minutes. Flibco also runs from the Dutch border region. By car via the A2/E314, parking from €4 per day.
Weeze: car or shuttle
Weeze Airport (NRN) lies just across the border near Kleve, easiest via Nijmegen or Venlo. Parking is cheap: off-airport car parks start around €3-5 per day. Flibco also runs a shuttle from Eindhoven and Nijmegen, but timings depend on your flight schedule. For travellers from Gelderland and Noord-Brabant, Weeze is sometimes closer than Schiphol.
Work out the total cost
Don't just compare the fare, but the total cost: PT return for the whole group versus car plus fuel plus parking for the number of days. Rule of thumb: for one or two people, PT almost always wins; with four or more people for a week away, the car including cheap shuttle parking can come close. Flights with hold luggage or very early departures (before 06:00) can tip the balance towards the car.
Ready to plan?
Open the trip planner and pick your departure point. Combine this with our guide on how early to arrive for a smooth start.
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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.