By Steve Hartridge, published 26/08/20

Eurostar’s London-Amsterdam service will operate fully direct both to and from the Netherlands from October 26.

Until now, returning trains have had to stop in Brussels for security checks.

It means the journey time will be just over four hours (4h 9m) from Amsterdam and three and a half hours (3h 29m) from Rotterdam to London.

Tickets for the direct return journey go on sale from September 1.

The announcement comes days after the UK Government took the Netherlands off its ‘safe list’, meaning arriving passengers from the country now have to quarantine for 14 days.

Eurostar said in light of the continuing uncertainty and recently introduced quarantine measures, it is making all fares exchangeable with no fee up to 14 days before departure for bookings until December 31.

Eurostar has introduced new hygiene measures on board and in stations, including a new seat map for social distancing, deep cleaning of trains, and mandatory wearing of masks.