Ferry to the Netherlands from the UK
Discover the best crossings to Holland from England and Scotland
To the Netherlands from the UK by ferry
These are the best ways to travel from England to Holland by ferry.
Thinking of taking the ferry to the Netherlands? From England and the UK, you have several options to consider. Some ferries sail directly to the Netherlands, while others offer crossings like Dover-Calais or Dover-Dunkirk, which may be preferable if you're located in southern England.
For those residing in the north of England or in Scotland, the DFDS ferry from Newcastle to Amsterdam (IJmuiden) is likely the most convenient option. Alternatively, you might opt for the P&O Ferries service from Hull to Rotterdam. If you're near Harwich or London, the Stena Line connection between Harwich and Hook of Holland could be your top choice.
The ferry to Holland is a very pleasant way of travelling. Not only are the longer crossings packed with entertainment, it is also very practical to bring your own car.
There are three direct ferry services from the UK that take you to Rotterdam and Amsterdam. From here you can continue your travels or of course stay in Holland. These ferries are ideal to travel further to for example Belgium, France, Germany, Sweden or Norway for example.
The most logical crossings from the UK to the Netherlands
- Harwich – Hook of Holland: cheap, fast and good Train Connections
- Newcastle – IJmuiden / Amsterdam: A favourable starting point in the Netherlands, especially if you're travelling from the northern regions of the UK, Scotland, or Ireland.
- Hull – Rotterdam: Convenient for those departing from the Sheffield/Leeds area, situated in the heart of the UK.
- Dover – Dunkirk (FR) & Drive to NL: A speedy ferry link that's both affordable and simple to book. The port of Dunkirk is slightly closer than Dover and somewhat smaller in size.
- Dover – Calais (FR) & Drive to NL: The most frequent ferry services daily: You have the option to board DFDS, Irish Ferries, or P&O to reach the north of France, from where you can drive to the centre of the Netherlands in approximately 4 hours.
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Travel tip: Harwich to Hoek of Holland ferry is the fastest crossing
The daytime ferry service between Harwich and Hook of Holland (Rotterdam) offers the quickest crossing from England to the Netherlands, taking 6.5 hours. Alternatively, you can book this as a night cruise, allowing you to begin your day refreshed the following morning. If you live closer to Hull or Newcastle either one of these crossings make more sense.
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Ferries to The Netherlands from the UK
Travelling from the UK to Holland by ferry or mini cruise is convenient. After boarding you can eat, drink or enjoy a show. You can sleep and wake up in The Netherlands on some routes.
Three ferries sail directly to the Netherlands, depending on where you live in England. These are Newcastle-Amsterdam, Hull-Rotterdam and Harwich-Hook of Holland. The latter is the shortest direct crossing and docks not far from Rotterdam.
Arriving in The Netherlands
When you arrive, you can continue your journey in your car or public transport (check the 9292.nl website for this). Some ferry companies offer a bus to the nearest big city.
UK ⇔ Netherlands
Ferries from the UK via France to the Netherlands
In addition to direct departure from the UK, travelling to Holland via France is possible. Although you probably have to drive southwards to Dover first, the crossings are a lot shorter. This is certainly a good option for tourists from Southern England and London.
There are three ferry routes across the Channel between France and England. Three shipping companies depart from Dover to Calais, and DFDS operates a ferry between Dover and Dunkirk. This last crossing takes half an hour longer, but the destination port is closer to the Dutch border.
To give an impression of the travel time, this is how long it takes to reach Utrecht. A city in the centre of the Country.
- Duration by car from Dunkirk to Utrecht: ± 3 hours 15 minutes
- Duration by car from the port of Calais to Utrecht: ± 3 hours 30 minutes
UK ⇔ France ⇔ Netherlands
Dover Calais
Dover to Calais is the quickest way to cross from the UK to France by ferry. It takes just 90 minutes to cover the 26-mile distance. This route is one of the world's most frequented and crowded crossings. On this page you'll find more information on the ferry companies, the route map, tickets, the timetable, port adresses and more.
Dover-Dunkirk
The DFDS ferry from Dover to Dunkirk sails up to 12 times per day, making it a fairly frequent ferry. This ferry takes you to France or back to the UK in only 2 hours. This makes it one of the shortest return-trips to France, along with the Dover to Calais crossings. Ideal for those wishing to travel between France and England.
Timetable, availability, and compare prices
Booking your ferry tickets has never been easier! With our online booking module, you can easily find and book your desired ferry crossing from the UK to the Netherlands in just a few clicks. Simply enter your travel dates and destination, and the system will show you all available options. You can then choose the one that best suits your needs and budget. It’s that simple!
Frequently Asked Questions
Three ferry companies sail to Holland from England. These are P&O ferries, Stena Line and DFDS. The ferries from Dover to France are from P&O ferries and DFDS.
If you travel to The Netherlands via the Harwich-Hook of Holland connection, you can choose a daytrip that takes only 6,5 hours. You can also book this ferry as an overnight crossing.
On average, the Harwich-Hook of Holland crossing is the cheapest crossing between the Netherlands and England. Stenaline offers a very affordable Ferry & Train ticket of €51 per person for a single journey (or £49) with this ticket you can travel for free by train to Greater Anglia train stations in England.
The shortest distance you can travel by ferry between Holland and England is 196 km (122 mile) as the crow flies. This is the crossing Hook of Holland – Harwich.
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