Deutsche Bahn has launched the Cologne-Ostend ICE service as a seasonal direct route, giving passengers a weekend connection from Germany to Belgium’s North Sea coast.

Cologne-Ostend ICE service begins in 2026
Photo: DB

The first journey used an ICE 3neo running from Cologne to Ostend via Brussels. Before departure, DB held a ceremony at Cologne Central Station to name one of its ICE 3neo trains “Köln”. The train was christened with water from the River Rhine before leaving on its inaugural trip to the Belgian coast.

Jens Gräfer, Honorary Consul of the Kingdom of Belgium in Cologne, said:

“Cologne is an important hub for international long-distance traffic towards Belgium and the Netherlands. Its backbone is the ICE 3neo, the flagship of the ICE fleet. So it made sense to name one of the trains after the cathedral city.”

Cologne-Ostend ICE service supports weekend travel

Passenger numbers on cross-border ICE services to and from Belgium⁠ increased by around 18 percent between 2019 and 2025. The new seasonal route is intended to serve this growing demand and forms part of expanded cooperation with Belgium’s national railway operator SNCB.

The train runs from Cologne Central Station to Ostend, calling at Aachen, Liège, Leuven, Brussels North, Brussels Midi, Ghent St Pieters and Bruges. On Saturdays and Sundays, it departs Cologne at 10:08am and arrives in Ostend at 1:47pm. Return services leave Ostend at 2:24pm and reach Cologne at 5:50pm.

The timetable gives passengers several hours at the Belgian coast before travelling back to Cologne on the same day.

DB also opens bookings for Cologne-Antwerp service

The Ostend service represents the ninth daily train pair operating between Germany and Belgium. It will run on weekends from 6 June to 27 June and again from 8 August to 30 August 2026.

DB has also opened bookings for a separate direct service between Cologne and Antwerp⁠. That route is scheduled to begin on 7 September 2026, with two daily train pairs serving Aachen, Liège, Leuven and Brussels Airport.