international rail link, operating out of Rotterdam Central Station, from Belgium and France. High-speed trains from Antwerp(Antwerpen-Berchem, 30 min), Brussels (Brussels Midi, 1 h 12 min) and Paris (Paris Nord, 2 h 37 min) are operated by Thalys. Book well in advance to secure the best ticket deals. Beyond that, a (very much) slower and (slightly) cheaper intercity service, operated by Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS), links Rotterdam Central to Antwerp (Antwerpen Central, 1 h 3 min), Mechelen (Mechelen, 1 h 27 min) and Brussels(Brussels Midi, 1 h 57 min).
Rotterdam is also well served by NS from other parts of the Netherlands, with direct connections to Amsterdam, Delft, Eindhoven, Gouda, Leiden, The Hague, Utrecht and Flushing. See also the Netherlands page for further information on national rail.
A high speed rail link called Fyra connects Rotterdam with Breda, Amsterdam and Schiphol Airport.
For onward travel Rotterdam Central Station is well served by bus, tram, metro and taxi.
By car
Rotterdam is easily reached by car. From Amsterdam take the A4 South to The Hague, change to the A13 to Rotterdam. From Utrecht take the A12 and change to the A20 just after Gouda. Traffic congestion on highways is common during peak hours (morning and evening commutes).
*Parking
On street it's only possible to pay with a chip card (Dutch: Chipknip). The card has a balance in euro and can be purchased at various points in the city, such as tobacconists and multi-storey car parks. Some meters in the center and near major attractions accept credit card. There is no option to pay with cash. Parking regulations are enforced regularly.
*Parking
