How far is Munich from Brussels by train?

Train from Amsterdam to Brussels?

• Trying to coordinate the most efficient travel between Seattle WA and Brussels Belgium. I can fly direct to Amsterdam (Schipol), and I can see that there is a high speed train from Amsterdam to Brussels direct. What are the rates one way and return? Are reservations required? I'm a little concerned about delayed flights causing a missed train connection - if I reserve a seat and my flight is delayed is there a chance to rebook the seat on a later train or do I lose the reserved ticket and have to buy another? Or is there an easier way to do this? I would prefer to fly from Seattle to Europe direct (no changing planes in Chicago, New York, Atlanta etc.). Direct flights go from Seattle to London Heathrow, Amsterdam, Paris (Charles de Gaulle), Frankfurt. It seemed to me that Amsterdam was the logical transfer point, and I like that the train would take me to the central station in Brussels instead of having to navigate from the airport.

• Answer:

  What both answers so far miss is that there are two different kinds of trains between Schiphol, Amsterdam airport and Brussels. There is the high speed train, which runs roughly every 2 hours, takes 1:39, you need a reservation for this train, and yes, you are likely to miss this train if you have a delay or miscalculate who long it takes between the plane and the train. The price I find now for the next train is €64, if that price is no problem, you can not make a reservation and just hope there is a seat free for you. Till Brussels it mostly is not that much of a problem. The other option is the normal train, this one runs each hour, takes 2:33 and costs €35.40 second class, or €54.60 first class. In this train first class you can always find a seat, without the risk of missing a prebooked train. If I were you, I would just fly to Amsterdam and go to the ticket window when you have arrived, ask about which train you can catch next and the cost. That way you can be sure to have the first train available, sure never to have to wait more than one hour. The normal service is pretty good too, you do not need the high speed one. I am Dutch, I have been to Belgium several times, never used the new highspeed train yet, the bit between Amsterdam and the south of the country opened last year. Till last December the time savings between Amsterdam and Brussels were only 5 minutes.