Deutsche Bahn (DB) is expanding its international rail transport offerings and launching a new direct ICE connection between Cologne and the resort town of Ostend, located on Belgium’s North Sea coast in western Belgium.
On this occasion, one of the newest ICE 3neo trains was christened “Köln,” becoming the German city’s ambassador in Belgium, the Netherlands, and on the German rail network.
The ceremony took place at Cologne Central Station in the presence of the city’s mayor, Torsten Burmester, as well as representatives from Deutsche Bahn and Belgium. After the event, the ICE 3neo “Köln” train made its maiden journey to Ostend.
According to Deutsche Bahn, Cologne is one of the most important hubs for international rail traffic to Belgium and the Netherlands. Between 2019 and 2025, the number of passengers using ICE trains on the Germany–Belgium route increased by approximately 18%, prompting the German operator to expand its service and strengthen its cooperation with the Belgian rail operator SNCB.
The new connection will stop in Aachen, Liège, Leuven, Brussels North, Brussels South, Ghent-Sint-Pieters, and Bruges before arriving in Ostend, one of the most popular tourist destinations on the Belgian coast.
The new service will run during the summer season
The train departs from Cologne on Saturdays and Sundays at 10:08 a.m., arriving in Ostend at 1:47 p.m. In the opposite direction, departure from Ostend is scheduled for 2:24 p.m., with arrival in Cologne at 5:50 p.m., giving travelers the opportunity to spend as much time as possible at their destination.
The new summer ICE to Ostend represents the ninth daily train pair between Germany and Belgium. The service will run from June 6–27 and August 8–30, 2026.
Tickets are already available through Deutsche Bahn platforms, including bahn.de, the DB Navigator app, and the operator’s sales centers.
Additionally, Deutsche Bahn has announced that tickets are now available for another direct international connection, between Cologne and Antwerp, via Aachen, Liège, Leuven, and Brussels Airport. This new route will begin service on September 7, 2026, and will be operated with two round-trip trains per day.
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