The Belgian Nation Railway company SNCB has come up with an intriguing offer for the holiday season. During the national holidays (such as spring break, easter, or the summer holidays), the country issues aptly named Youth Holiday tickets for everybody under the age of 26. It comes in two versions: 1 week for €18 or 1 month for €35 and includes all domestic trains in the country with very few exceptions.
It is available to both Belgian citizens and visitors.
As long as you ride in second class, even Intercity trains are included in this offer. The only exception comes for rides to Brussels airport, which may result in an extra fee. The ticket is only valid for the ticket holder and is not refundable.
The monthly ticket for €35 is only available for July and August 2024. The weekly (valid for seven consecutive days) tickets can be purchased for any given week during Belgium’s school holidays.
You can find the full terms & conditions in English, French and in Dutch by clicking on these very links.
How to Purchase the Youth Holiday Ticket
The most convenient way is downloading the SNCB app as it’s explained here:
It is also possible to purchase the ticket at a train station. First, you need to purchase a MoBIB card for €6. It is valid for five years and is generally recommended when exploring Belgium by train. After receiving the MoBIB card, just ask if they can load the Youth Holiday ticket directly onto your card, and you’re all set.
Bottom Line
Despite the age restriction, this is a very decent offer for travelling in Belgium. The ticket pays off after a couple of rides and the cheapest alternative for a train flat rate in Belgium would be the Interrail Benelux pass, which also includes trains in the Netherlands and Luxembourg, but checks out at €198 per person for eight days.