The Anonymous Widower

London to Den Haag by Train

I was in London last Wednesday and as I was going to Den Haag for the Bank Holiday weekend, I decided to take the Eurostar to Brussels and then take a train direct from there to Den Haag.  You can go by Thalys from Brussels to Rotterdam and then take a local train, but it’s actually easier to do what the man in Seat 61 says and take the Belgian/Dutch Intercity train direct from Brussels. 

Or it should be? 

The problem is that I didn’t have a ticket for the Intercity train and it left about twenty minutes after the Eurostar arrived.  Or at least mine did. And it took thirty minutes to buy the ticket in Brussels.  They have no automatic machines to do this!  Grr!!! 

But the Intercity train was comfortable, especially as I took the option of First Class for about 90 euro instead of 60. 

Remember that there are two stations in Den Haag; Centraal and HS.  The fast trains only go to HS, but you generally want to go to Centraal.  On Thursday, it was just a walk across the platform.  But I got seriously lost at Centraal, as I couldn’t find the bus station.  It’s actually on the top, but the signs are discreet to say the least. 

Spot the Sign to the Buses

Coming back was easier, in that I’d decided to spend a few hours in Brussels.  So I got an early train to Brussels, dumped my case in a locker and then got a day ticket for the public transport. 

The latter should have been easy, but the automatic machines were all broken and it took me about fifteen minutes to queue for a ticket.  What is it about Belgians and selling tickets. 

The Eurostar got me back in to London on time and in fact I was able to get to Whittlesford Parkway on an earlier train.  But my excellent taxi driver, Michael, from Sawston Taxis was there to take me home in comfort.  He is to be recommended.

May 5, 2010 - Posted by AnonW | Transport/Travel | Belgium, Brussels, Taxis, Trains