Ferry to The Netherlands from UK
Discover the best crossings to Holland from UK
Your guide for the England to Holland crossing
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. You can stay in Holland or continue your journey to Germany or Norway with the new ferry connection.
Our Current Top 5 Crossings from UK to NL
- Harwich – Hook of Holland: Cheap, Fast and Good Train Connections)
- Newcastle – IJmuiden / Amsterdam: Good location to start in NL, ferry nice if you travel from the northern part of the UK or Ireland.)
- Dover – Dunkirk (FR) & Drive to NL: Fast ferry connection and cheap and easy to book. The harbor of Dunkirk is a little closer compared to Dover and also a little bit smaller.
- Dover – Calais (FR) & Drive to NL: Very busy route, in peak season don't take this one and avoid Dover.
- Hull – Rotterdam: Handy if you leave from Sheffield / Leeds area.
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Travel tip: The Harwich ferry is the fastest crossing
The daytime ferry service between Harwich and Hook of Holland (Rotterdam) is the fastest crossing from England to the Netherlands. It takes 6,5 hours. You can also book this as a night cruise, after which you can start your day fresh the next day.
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Ferries to The Netherlands from UK
Traveling from the UK to Holland by ferry, or even minicruise, is very convenient. After boarding you can eat, drink or enjoy a show. On some routes you can go to sleep and wake up in The Netherlands.
Depending on where you leave in England, there are three ferries that sail directly to the Netherlands. 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 with your own car or use public transport (check the 9292.nl website for this) Some ferry companies offer a bus to the nearest big city.
UK ⇔ Netherlands
Ferries via France to The Netherlands
In addition to direct departure from the UK, it is also possible to travel to Holland via France. Although you probably have to drive southwards to Dover first, the crossings are a lot shorter. This is certainly a good option for travelers from Southern England and London, for example.
There are three ferry routes across the Channel between France and England. Two shipping companies depart from Dover to Calais and shipping company DFDS operates a ferry between Dover and Dunkirk. This last crossing takes half an hour longer, but the destination port is closer tot he Dutch border.
To give an impression of the travel time, this is how long it takes to reach Utrecht. A city in the center 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
Netherlands ⇔ France ⇔ UK
Dover-Calais
Dover to Calais is the quickest way to cross between the UK and 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.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Three ferry companies sail to Holland from England. These are P&O ferries, Stenaline 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.
