Where and how can I store luggage in Brussels, Belgium for ~8 days?

June 16, 2007 10:27 AM

Where and how can I store luggage in Brussels, Belgium for ~8 days?

I'm traveling to Europe next weekend for a study abroad program in The Netherlands. I'm flying into Brussels, Belgium and need to store my luggage (2 large duffel bags) while I travel to Italy for a week before classes start. I'm flying into Brussels airport, then need to store my luggage somewhere, and go to Charleroi airport. When I return, I'll need to go from Charleroi, pick up my luggage, and take a train to Maastricht, Netherlands. So storing at a train station might be a good idea.

1. I've heard that I can store luggage at the Gare du Midi train station for longer than 24 hours, but I don't have that confirmed. I'd rather not have to make an international call to find out ($$).

2. Is Gare du Midi the right train station I'd want to store it at to then be able to take a train to Maastricht? Would it be better to store it at Gare du Nord or Centrale? Or would it be best to store it in Charleroi, and then could I head to Maastricht right from Charleroi?

3. What's the best way for me to get from Brussels airport to Charleroi airport for cheap? Taxi, bus, train?

I'm a little new to this. It's my first time in Europe and I'm also on a budget.

Has anyone had to store baggage while traveling in Europe? I'd rather not lug my huge bag around with me that first week. What did you do?

posted by ejames to travel & transportation (11 comments total)

You can store your bags at Gare du Midi, at least as of last year when I was there, though I only left mine for a day. If you are worried and want confirmation from an official of some sort, and you have broadband, you might try downloading skype. Calls to Europe are 2 cents a minute.

You can definitely get on the train at Midi.
posted by Nothing at 11:17 AM on June 16, 2007

This might help with Charleroi . Both the bus and the train are about 10 euros.
posted by Nothing at 11:22 AM on June 16, 2007

If you're happy to wait until Sunday morning (or Monday morning at worst) (European time) I'll phone the Gare de Midi and enquire for you - I live in Belgium so it's a local call.
posted by anzoid at 1:07 PM on June 16, 2007

There are both automatic luggage lockers and a staffed luggage service, according to the official website of the station. Opening hours are from 00:00-24:00 (but that probably only applies to the lockers).

The website speaks of a 'staffed left-luggage service', which makes it sound like a lost and found, but the Dutch version of the page explicitely uses the Dutch word for baggage storage.

The price is 2,50€ per piece of luggage per calendar day in the staffed luggage service. The use of the automatic lockers is only allowed for a maximum of 72 hours (at a cost of 2€, 2,80€ or 3,30€, depending on volume). (Source: Dutch pdf)

If I were you I would be very hesitant to trust a random internet stranger, but I'll offer it anyway: I live only one train station away from Brussels, so if you want, you can store your bags in my house (for free of course!). My email is in my profile.
posted by lioness at 1:09 PM on June 16, 2007

2. Is Gare du Midi the right train station I'd want to store it at to then be able to take a train to Maastricht? Would it be better to store it at Gare du Nord or Centrale? Or would it be best to store it in Charleroi, and then could I head to Maastricht right from Charleroi?

Charleroi-sud doesn't have a staffed baggage service, only lockers, so that's not an option, I'm afraid.

To get to Maastricht from Brussels*, you have to take the train to Liège (it has Eupen as its final destination), where you have a connection with the train to Maastricht. It will take you just under two hours. The train for Liège stops in all three Brussels' stations, so the choice of Nord, Central or Midi doesn't really matter.

You can calculate the cost of a ticket, but this feature is temporarely down, apparently.

*As you can see, the first two results are faster, but more expensive, as you would travel by Thalys. It would also require a reservation.
posted by lioness at 1:35 PM on June 16, 2007

@anzoid: I would really appreciate that. Yes I could wait until then. I have a week until I leave.

I'd like to know (1) If the staffed luggage service is open on a Sunday after 7:30 AM. (2) If I can leave luggage there for 8 days.

@lioness: That's a very generous offer, but I'll have to decline. Thanks though! :)
posted by ejames at 1:44 PM on June 16, 2007

Trying to talk to a human at Bruxelles-Midi has been an exercise in frustration :) However, digging around on the SNCB website I did finally come up with something that will hopefully be useful...

According to this page there is the possibility of leaving luggage at any station that offers the possibility for upto 6 months. Then, according to this page that facility exists at Midi and is apparently open 24 hours a day.

Bruxelles-Nord doesn't offer this service at all but there is a limited service at Bruxelles-Central from 06:20 to 21:30 each day.

From here you can check your timetables, they'll give you all your connection details etc. I'm guessing that when you speak of Brussels airport you're arriving in Zaventem. Charleroi airport, although it likes to call itself Brussels-South (or somesuch) is actually nowhere near Brussels.
If you're coming from Zaventem you can just type "Bruxelles-Zaventem" as your departure point on the timetable page.

For the train to Charleroi airport your destination needs to be go into Charleroi-Sud (South station) there's then a shuttle bus to the airport.

Can't give you any more detail than that at the moment because the SNCB timetable app is just returning errors. Great European efficiency... and that's coming from a Brit :)

Hope this is of some use to you. Have fun in Europe!
posted by anzoid at 12:35 PM on June 17, 2007

Late addition: you can ask for a "bulk-Charleroi airport" ticket which for 10.50 euros will get you train and bus tickets from whichever station is your starting point (ref)

If you fancy the french it's "bulk – aéroport de Charleroi". Goodness knows how you're supposed the pronunce bulk with a French accent.
posted by anzoid at 12:40 PM on June 17, 2007

Thanks for all your help. I think I'll be able to find my way with this information.
posted by ejames at 5:58 PM on June 18, 2007

Hey, this is Brussels calling. With regards to your question on how to get from Brussels/Zaventem airport to Charleroi, I would take the airport shuttle (train) from Zaventem to Brussels Midi (where you could leave your luggage). Just outside the Midi station there is an hourly shuttle (bus) to charleroi airport. You could also take a train to Charleroi but the Charleroi train station is nowhere near the airport, so you'd have to take another local bus or taxi...
posted by pj_rivera at 9:32 AM on June 19, 2007

I want to clarify that the shuttle bus from brussels midi to Charleroi airport would not be included in any bulk public transport ticket (as refered to above) and would cost you 11€. A normal (non-bulk) train ticket from brussels airport to brussels midi train station costs 2.80€.
posted by pj_rivera at 6:22 AM on June 20, 2007