Ferry to Belgium from the UK: best routes
UK to Belgium by ferry at a glance
- no direct UK-Belgium passenger/car ferry today
- best via France: Dover-Dunkirk or Dover-Calais
- best via the Netherlands: Hull-Rotterdam or Harwich-Hook of Holland
- choose by destination: Bruges, Brussels, Antwerp or Ghent
Ferry to Belgium from the UK: what are the best routes now?
There is currently no direct passenger/car ferry from the UK to Belgium. The old direct routes to Zeebrugge and Ostend are gone, so today the most useful ferry routes to Belgium go via northern France or the Netherlands.
The best route depends on where you start in the UK and where you need to be in Belgium. For Bruges and West Flanders, Dover-Dunkirk or Dover-Calais often make the most sense. For Antwerp, Hull-Rotterdam or Harwich-Hook of Holland can work very well. For Brussels and Ghent, both the French and Dutch routes are worth comparing.
This is one of those route choices where local geography matters. FerryGoGo is based in the Netherlands, close to Belgium, and we know these UK-France and UK-Netherlands corridors from both sides. We have tested the main Dover-Calais ferry operators and LeShuttle ourselves, sailed several UK-France crossings, and covered the main UK-Netherlands routes in detail.
For a simpler route-only overview, you can also use our dedicated microsite FerryToBelgium.co.uk. This FerryGoGo page goes deeper into route choice, practical trade-offs and the old direct UK-Belgium ferry links.
For the short Channel routes, we have also tested the main Dover-Calais options ourselves, including P&O Ferries, Irish Ferries, DFDS and LeShuttle. If you are choosing between the Dover ferry routes and the tunnel, our Dover-Calais crossing test is a useful next read.
Map: most logical ferry routes to Belgium from the UK
The map shows the most logical indirect routes to Belgium. The key arrival ports are Dunkirk, Calais, Rotterdam, Hook of Holland and IJmuiden. There is no active UK-Belgium passenger ferry port, so the best route is the one that leaves you closest to your Belgian destination.
As a rule of thumb, Dunkirk and Calais work best for Bruges, Ghent and West Flanders. Rotterdam and Hook of Holland are often very good for Antwerp and can also work for Brussels, depending on where you start in the UK.
Our straightforward route picks
- If you want to land as close to Belgium as possible: start with Dover-Dunkirk. Dunkirk is the nearest ferry port to the Belgian border and works especially well for Bruges and West Flanders.
- If you want the most sailings and operator choice: compare Dover-Calais. The crossing is short, frequent and easy to compare, even if Calais is a little further from Belgium than Dunkirk.
- If you are travelling from northern England, the Midlands or Scotland, or want an overnight crossing: compare the North Sea routes first. Hull-Rotterdam is often the natural choice from northern England, while Newcastle-IJmuiden can make sense from the North East or Scotland.
- If you want to avoid Dover from East Anglia or London: look at Harwich-Hook of Holland. It is a strong route for Antwerp, Brussels and onward driving through the Netherlands.
- If outright speed matters most: compare LeShuttle. It is not a ferry, but it is the fastest vehicle crossing between England and France.
Compare the best ferry routes to Belgium
There is no single best ferry to Belgium for everyone. Use this table to narrow down the route before checking live prices. Crossing and drive times are approximate and can vary with traffic, season and check-in time.
| Route | Best for | Watch out for | FerryGoGo verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dover-Dunkirk DFDS · crossing about 2 hrs |
Bruges, Ghent, West Flanders and onward driving into Belgium | No foot passengers; you need a vehicle | Often the most logical short crossing for Belgium |
| Dover-Calais P&O, DFDS, Irish Ferries · about 90–100 min |
The most sailings and operator choice; useful for Bruges, Brussels and general Belgium trips | Calais is a little further from Belgium than Dunkirk; foot-passenger rules vary by operator | Best if frequency and choice matter most |
| Hull-Rotterdam P&O · overnight, about 11–12 hrs |
Northern England, Scotland, Antwerp and northern Belgium | Longer crossing and usually a higher ticket price than the short Channel routes | The natural replacement for many former Hull-Zeebrugge travellers |
| Harwich-Hook of Holland Stena Line · day and night sailings |
East Anglia, London, Antwerp, Brussels and rail/car onward travel | Not as direct as Dover if you live in Kent or the South East | A very strong Dover alternative for Belgium |
| Newcastle-IJmuiden DFDS · overnight, about 16 hrs 45 min |
North East England, Scotland and trips that combine Belgium with the Netherlands | Longest crossing; the onward drive to Belgium is still a real part of the journey | Useful mainly if it saves a long drive to a southern port |
| LeShuttle Channel Tunnel · about 35 min |
The fastest vehicle crossing, Folkestone to Calais | Usually more expensive, and it is a tunnel shuttle rather than a ferry | Worth comparing if speed matters more than price |
FerryGoGo tip
For Belgium, do not judge a route by the sea crossing alone. Add the drive before and after the ferry. Dunkirk is usually the neatest short-sea option for Bruges, while Rotterdam and Hook of Holland can be stronger for Antwerp once you count the driving.
Compare Dover-Dunkirk for Belgium →What happened to the direct ferries to Belgium?
Many travellers still search for a direct ferry to Belgium because several routes used to exist. The important point is that these are now historic routes, not current passenger options.
- Hull-Zeebrugge: the last major direct UK-Belgium passenger ferry. P&O stopped the passenger service from 1 January 2021.
- Ramsgate-Ostend: formerly operated by TransEuropa Ferries. The route ended after the company stopped sailing and went into bankruptcy in 2013.
- Dover-Ostend: a well-known historic Belgium route, but no longer a current passenger ferry option.
- Rosyth-Zeebrugge: once useful for Scotland and northern Europe, but the passenger service ended in 2010.
That is why today’s best UK-Belgium ferry routes are indirect: either sail to northern France and drive into Belgium, or sail to the Netherlands and drive south.
Which route should you choose?
The best route is usually the one with the shortest total journey: UK drive, crossing and onward drive combined. The shortest time at sea is useful, but it does not always give you the easiest route to Belgium.
- London, Kent or the South East: Dover-Dunkirk and Dover-Calais. Dunkirk lands closest to Belgium; Calais gives you more frequency and operator choice.
- East Anglia: Harwich-Hook of Holland, especially for Antwerp, Brussels or northern Belgium, without the drive down to Dover.
- Northern England: Hull-Rotterdam, the closest modern equivalent to the old Hull-Zeebrugge passenger ferry.
- Scotland or the North East: Newcastle-IJmuiden if you want an overnight crossing and no long drive south; otherwise compare it against Hull-Rotterdam.
- Anywhere, if speed matters most: LeShuttle. It is not a ferry, but it is the fastest vehicle crossing between England and France.
For a wider FerryGoGo route overview, see our guide to ferries from the UK to France and ferries from the UK to the Netherlands.
Which ferry route works best for Bruges, Brussels, Antwerp or Ghent?
The best route to Belgium depends a lot on where you are going after the ferry. Bruges, Ghent, Brussels and Antwerp sit in different directions from the French and Dutch ferry ports, so it is worth looking at the full journey rather than only the crossing time.
Bruges and the Belgian coast
For Bruges, the Belgian coast and West Flanders, start by comparing Dover-Dunkirk and Dover-Calais. Dunkirk usually leaves you better placed for the drive into Belgium; Calais is a little further away but gives you more sailings and operator choice.
Brussels
For Brussels, both the French and Dutch routes can work. From London, Kent and the South East, Dover-Dunkirk and Dover-Calais are usually the first routes to check. From further north, Hull-Rotterdam or Harwich-Hook of Holland can make more sense once you include the UK drive to the port.
Antwerp
For Antwerp, the Dutch routes are often the neatest fit. Hull-Rotterdam and Harwich-Hook of Holland put you on the right side of the Netherlands for the short drive south into Belgium.
Ghent
For Ghent, compare Dunkirk, Calais and the Dutch routes. Dunkirk is often the cleanest short-sea option, but your UK starting point can easily change the best answer.
Most useful ferry arrival ports for Belgium
The most useful ferry arrival points for Belgium are not in Belgium itself. They are just across the border in northern France or the Netherlands. So instead of looking for a direct UK-Belgium ferry, it is better to compare the arrival ports that put you in the best position for your onward drive.
- Dunkirk: usually the neatest short-sea arrival point for Bruges, Ghent, the Belgian coast and West Flanders.
- Calais: a little further from Belgium than Dunkirk, but with more sailings and operator choice from Dover.
- Rotterdam: strong for Antwerp, Brussels and northern Belgium, especially if you are travelling from Hull.
- Hook of Holland: useful from Harwich, with a straightforward onward drive through the Netherlands towards Antwerp, Brussels and northern Belgium.
- IJmuiden: useful from Newcastle if the overnight crossing saves you a long drive to a southern UK port.
The best route is not always the one with the shortest ferry crossing. For Belgium, the onward drive after arrival often matters just as much as the crossing itself.
Belgium via France or the Netherlands?
- Choose France if you live in the South East, want a short sea crossing, or are heading to Bruges, Ghent or the Belgian coast.
- Choose the Netherlands if you live further north or east in the UK, want an overnight crossing, or are heading to Antwerp or northern Belgium.
- Choose LeShuttle if speed matters more than price or the ferry experience.
For the French route cluster, see our guides to Dover-Dunkirk, Dover-Calais and our Dover-Calais crossing test. For Dutch routes, see Hull-Rotterdam, Harwich-Hook of Holland and Newcastle-IJmuiden.
If you want a simpler side-by-side route overview, the minisite FerryToBelgium.co.uk is useful too.
Practical questions about ferries to Belgium
Is there a direct ferry from the UK to Belgium?
No. There is currently no direct passenger/car ferry from the UK to Belgium. The former Hull-Zeebrugge passenger route stopped in 2021, so today you normally travel via France or the Netherlands.
What happened to Hull-Zeebrugge?
P&O Ferries stopped the Hull-Zeebrugge passenger route from 1 January 2021. For many travellers from northern England, Hull-Rotterdam is now the closest practical alternative.
Which route should I check first?
That depends on where in Belgium you are going. For Bruges, Ghent and West Flanders, Dover-Dunkirk is often one of the best first checks. For Antwerp, Hull-Rotterdam or Harwich-Hook of Holland can be more useful. For Brussels, it is worth comparing both the French and Dutch routes.
Is Dover-Dunkirk better than Dover-Calais for Belgium?
Often, yes. Dover-Dunkirk lands closer to Belgium and can be very convenient for Bruges, Ghent and onward driving. Dover-Calais is shorter and has more operator choice, so it is still worth comparing if price, timing or availability is better.
Is Hull-Rotterdam good for Belgium?
Yes, especially from northern England or Scotland. Rotterdam works well for Antwerp, Brussels and northern Belgium, and the overnight crossing can save a long drive to Dover.
Can I travel to Belgium as a foot passenger by ferry?
Yes, but route choice matters. The North Sea routes, such as Harwich-Hook of Holland, Hull-Rotterdam and Newcastle-IJmuiden, are usually the better ferry options for foot passengers. Dover-Dunkirk does not take foot passengers, and LeShuttle is not for foot passengers unless you use its separate pre-booked cycle service. Dover-Calais depends on the operator, so always check the rules before booking. If you have no car and are heading for Brussels, Eurostar is often the simpler choice.
Should I go via France or the Netherlands?
Via France usually works best if you live in London, Kent or the South East, or if you are heading to Bruges, Ghent or the Belgian coast. Via the Netherlands can work better if you live further north or east in the UK, want an overnight crossing, or are heading to Antwerp or northern Belgium.
Useful next reads
- FerryToBelgium.co.uk: dedicated route overview
- Dover to Dunkirk ferry
- Dover to Calais ferry
- We tried every way to cross the Channel from Dover to Calais
- Eurotunnel / LeShuttle guide
- Hull to Rotterdam ferry
- Harwich to Hook of Holland ferry
- Newcastle to Amsterdam / IJmuiden ferry
- Ferries from the UK to France
- Ferries from the UK to the Netherlands
Useful for travellers to France
Tips for ferry travellers
It's crazy that you can't travel from Zeebrugge anymore. I've read there was supposed to be a deal that in 2023 ferries would ride again from Zeebrugge to Rosyth. But so far I haven't seen this happening yet.
Hi Bruggema,
We will keep an eye on this route. DFDS was supposed to take over this route, however, we haven't seen or heard anything about this route. We'll tweet them for an answer! If you follow us on Twitter (https://twitter.com/FerryGoGoOnline ) you can follow this conversation!