There are 6 ways to get from Cologne to Amsterdam by train, night train, rideshare, car or plane
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2rio's travel planner.
Train via Arnhem
-
Take the train from Koeln Sued to Duesseldorf Flughafen
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Take the train from Duesseldorf Flughafen to Arnhem Centraal
-
Take the train from Arnhem Centraal to Amsterdam Centraal
Night train
-
Take the night train from Koeln Hbf to Amsterdam Centraal
Drive
-
Drive from Cologne to Amsterdam
Train, fly
-
Take the train from Koeln Hbf to Duesseldorf Flughafen
-
Fly from Dusseldorf (DUS) to Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS)
Cologne to Amsterdam by train
Travel safe during COVID-19
International entry into Netherlands from Germany
- Entry is fully open for citizens and permanent residents of Germany
Conditions of entry into Netherlands from Germany
- There are no current restrictions
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- Entry is allowed for fully vaccinated travellers or those who have recovered from COVID-19 in the last 6 months
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Rules to follow in Netherlands
1.5m
Recommended
Considerations leaving from Germany
The official advice is to avoid non-essential international travel to high risk countries
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, entry into Netherlands is currently allowed from Germany.
Explore travel optionsDomestic travel is not restricted, but some conditions may apply
- Face masks are recommended
- There is a social distancing requirement of 1.5 metres
- There are no current restrictions
The national COVID-19 helpline number in Amsterdam is 1351.
Wearing a face mask on public transport in Amsterdam is recommended.
The social distance requirement in Amsterdam is 1.5 metres.
Make yourself known to an official member of staff and/or call the national coronavirus helpline number on 1351.
No, returning to Germany from Netherlands is currently allowed.
See options for return travel.
Last updated: 27 Jun 2022
Exceptions may apply, for full details: European Union.
We're working around the clock to bring you the latest COVID-19 travel updates.
This information is compiled from official sources. To the best of our knowledge, it is correct as of the last update.
Visit Rome2rio travel advice for general help.
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Cologne to Amsterdam is to rideshare which costs €12 - €26 and takes 3h 1m.
The quickest way to get from Cologne to Amsterdam is to drive which costs €35 - €55 and takes 2h 42m.
Yes, there is a direct train departing from Köln Deutz Messe/Deutz Bf and arriving at Amsterdam Centraal. Services depart once daily, and operate Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. The journey takes approximately 3h 8m.
The distance between Cologne and Amsterdam is 214 km. The road distance is 262.1 km.
The best way to get from Cologne to Amsterdam without a car is to train which takes 3h 8m and costs €50 - €70.
The train from Köln Deutz Messe/Deutz Bf to Amsterdam Centraal takes 3h 8m including transfers and departs once daily.
Cologne to Amsterdam train services, operated by Deutsche Bahn Intercity-Express, depart from Köln Deutz Messe/Deutz Bf station.
The quickest flight from Dusseldorf Airport to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport is the direct flight which takes 55 min.
Cologne to Amsterdam train services, operated by Deutsche Bahn Intercity-Express, arrive at Amsterdam Centraal station.
Yes, the driving distance between Cologne to Amsterdam is 262 km. It takes approximately 2h 42m to drive from Cologne to Amsterdam.
- Distance: 214.1 km
- Duration: 3h 8m
What companies run services between Cologne, Germany and Amsterdam, Netherlands?
Deutsche Bahn Intercity-Express operates a train from Köln Deutz Messe/Deutz Bf to Amsterdam Centraal once daily. Tickets cost €50 - €70 and the journey takes 3h 8m.
- Website
- klm.com
Flights from Dusseldorf to Amsterdam Schiphol
- Ave. Duration
- 56 min
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €120 - €600
German rail company Deutsche Bahn is known for its efficient and comfortable service. It offers many different types of rail transportation, including ICE or Intercity-Express for high-speed services between major cities and regions, IC (InterCity) for long-distance trains, RE (Regional Express) trains that connect regions and cities, and the S-Bahn rapid transit service. There are two main tickets on offer: the Flexpreis that has full flexibility, and the Sparpreis which is the cheaper, advanced fare (bookings usually open 6 months in advance for domestic tickets).
Contact Details
- Phone
- +49 0180 6 99 66 33
- Website
- bahn.com
Train from Köln Deutz Messe/Deutz Bf to Amsterdam Centraal
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 8m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- €50 - €70
- Website
- Deutsche Bahn
Night train from Köln Hbf to Amsterdam Centraal
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 24m
- Frequency
- Twice a week
- Estimated price
- €50 - €70
- Website
- Deutsche Bahn
Train from Köln Hbf to D-Flughafen Bf
- Ave. Duration
- 34 min
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- €18 - €26
- Website
- Deutsche Bahn
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- Phone
- 0221 13 999 444
- Website
- nationalexpress.de
Train from Koeln Sued to Duesseldorf Flughafen
- Ave. Duration
- 46 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €11 - €15
- Website
- National Express Rail
Train from Koeln Hbf to Duesseldorf Flughafen
- Ave. Duration
- 54 min
- Frequency
- Every 15 minutes
- Estimated price
- €12 - €16
- Website
- National Express Rail
- Phone
- 069 450099650
- Kundenservice-Linie10@vias-online.de
- Website
- vias-online.de
Train from Duesseldorf Flughafen to Arnhem Centraal
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 40m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Website
- VIAS Rail GmbH
Dutch Railways (NS) is the main passenger railway operator in the Netherlands. Founded in 1938, NS connects all major cities in the Netherlands, and offers night trains, international trains, Intercity direct, and trains to and from the airport. NS International is the international subsidiary of NS; their services include high-speed trains such as Thalys, ICE International, Eurostar and TGV, to major European hubs including Paris, London, Brussels, Berlin, Cologne, Frankfurt and Lille.
Contact Details
- Phone
- +31 30 751 5155
- Website
- ns.nl
Train from Arnhem Centraal to Amsterdam Centraal
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 3m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €13 - €35
- Website
- Dutch Railways (NS)
- Book at
- Netherlands Rail Pass
- 2nd Class
- €13 - €19
- 1st Class
- €22 - €35
- Phone
- +43 51717
- Website
- nightjet.com
Night train from Koeln Hbf to Amsterdam Centraal
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 1m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- €21 - €28
- Website
- Nightjet
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- Phone
- 0800 2235546
- Website
- abellio.de
Train from Köln Hbf to Düsseldorf Flughafen
- Ave. Duration
- 38 min
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Website
- ABELLIO Rail
- Phone
- 0800 223 5546
- Website
- abellio.de
Train from Koeln Hbf to Duesseldorf Flughafen
- Ave. Duration
- 39 min
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Website
- Abellio
- Phone
- +32 70 66 77 88
- Website
- thalys.com
Train from Koeln Hbf to Duesseldorf Flughafen
- Ave. Duration
- 32 min
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- €40 - €75
- Website
- Thalys
- Standard
- €40 - €55
- Comfort
- €50 - €70
- Premium
- €55 - €75
Blablacar is a popular ridesharing platform with 70 million users over 22 (mostly European) countries. The basic idea is that you carpool with locals who are already planning to drive your route and have space in their car. With some flexibility, you’ll get to your destination often faster and cheaper than other means. On the website or app, enter your departure and arrival points and your date of travel, sift through the profiles of drivers who’ve posted pre-planned drives and find one whose timing and preferences match yours. Request to join the ride, wait to be accepted, and pay your share of the set price.
Rome2rio's guide to BlaBlaCar
Contact Details
- Website
- blablacar.com
Rideshare from Cologne to Amsterdam
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 1m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- €12 - €26
- Book at
- blablacar.co.uk
Want to know more about travelling around Netherlands
Rome2rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Filled with useful and timely travel information, the guides answer all the hard questions - such as 'How do I buy a ticket?', 'Should I book online before I travel? ', 'How much should I expect to pay?', 'Do the trains and buses have Wifi?' - to help you get the most out of your next trip.
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