Travelling to the Netherlands by Land or Sea

By Land

The Netherlands shares 478 km of border with Belgium and 575 km with Germany. Road and rail crossings between the countries are numerous and pose no problems. Moreover, as all are members of the Schengen Area, there are no border controls (under "normal" circumstances).

By Road

Amsterdam is just over 500 km from Paris and less than 300 km from the French border. The good road and motorway network makes it easy and quick to get there from France or elsewhere.

Beyond the increasingly popular carpooling services, several bus companies offer numerous connections between various European cities and the Netherlands; the best known is Eurolines. You can sometimes find a Paris-Amsterdam return trip for as little as 50 € and less than 100 € from other parts of France. Depending on your departure and arrival cities, the bus can be a good alternative to flying or taking the train, especially if you live in northern France.

By Train

Less well-known than the Eurostar, the Thalys is the train line connecting France (Paris), Belgium (Brussels), Germany (Cologne), and the Netherlands (Amsterdam), with Brussels as the central hub and several intermediate stops, including Rotterdam. This high-speed train links the French and Dutch capitals in just 3 hours and 20 minutes, with occasional first-price tickets dropping below 100 € return, though it’s usually safer to budget around 130–180 €. Alternatively, the Netherlands, Belgium, and France are all part of the InterRail pass.

By Sea

Ferries

Cargo

With Rotterdam being Europe’s largest commercial port, there are plenty of opportunities to arrive by cargo ship.

Cruises

Sailboats