Ferry to the Netherlands from the UK
UK to Holland ferries at a glance
- 3 direct routes: Harwich, Hull and Newcastle
- Best for London and foot passengers: Harwich-Hook of Holland
- Best for Yorkshire, Midlands and the North: Hull-Rotterdam
- Best for Scotland and North East England: Newcastle-Amsterdam (IJmuiden)
- Alternative: Dover-Dunkirk or Dover-Calais plus the drive north
Ferries from the UK to the Netherlands (Holland)
There are three direct ferry routes between the UK and the Netherlands, also widely searched as ferries to Holland: Harwich to Hook of Holland, Hull to Rotterdam and Newcastle to Amsterdam (which actually arrives at IJmuiden, just west of Amsterdam). The route map below gives you a quick overview of the main corridors, whether you are heading for Amsterdam, Rotterdam or elsewhere in the country.
We’ve sailed all three UK-Netherlands crossings, and they each suit a different kind of trip. Harwich-Hook of Holland is the most useful route for London, East Anglia, Rail & Sail and foot passengers. Hull-Rotterdam is a strong overnight choice for Yorkshire, the Midlands and northern England. Newcastle-Amsterdam is the natural pick for North East England, Scotland and travellers who want an overnight start towards Amsterdam or northern Europe.
If you are starting in southern England, the direct North Sea ferries are not always the only sensible option. Dover-Dunkirk or Dover-Calais followed by the drive through Belgium can sometimes be cheaper or more flexible, especially if you want a shorter sea crossing and do not mind the extra driving.
Map: ferry routes to Holland from the UK
Which UK to Netherlands ferry should you choose?
There is no single ‘best’ ferry to the Netherlands. The right route depends mostly on where you start in the UK, whether you are travelling by car or train, and where you want to end up in the Netherlands. Use this quick guide first, then compare live sailings for your dates.
| Route | Best for | Crossing style | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harwich to Hook of Holland | London, East Anglia, foot passengers, Rail & Sail and travellers heading towards Rotterdam, The Hague or Utrecht | Day or overnight crossing | Hook of Holland is well connected by metro, but check onward trains if arriving late |
| Hull to Rotterdam | Yorkshire, the Midlands, northern England and car, camper or motorhome trips | Overnight ferry with cabins | The Dutch port is Europoort, outside Rotterdam city centre |
| Newcastle to Amsterdam | North East England, Scotland, Northumberland and Amsterdam mini-cruise trips | Longer overnight ferry | The Dutch port is IJmuiden, not central Amsterdam |
| Via France | Southern England, Kent, Dover departures and travellers who prefer a short Channel crossing | Short ferry plus a longer drive | Dunkirk is closer to the Dutch border than Calais, but you still need to factor in road time |
Ferry to Amsterdam, Rotterdam or elsewhere in Holland
If you are searching by destination rather than departure port, here is the quickest way to match a Dutch arrival point to a route:
- Ferry to Amsterdam: take Newcastle to Amsterdam, which docks at IJmuiden with onward transport into the city. It is the natural pick from Scotland and northern England.
- Ferry to Rotterdam: take Hull to Rotterdam (arriving at Europoort), or Harwich to Hook of Holland, which is a short metro ride from Rotterdam.
- Ferry to Holland more generally: all three direct routes land within easy reach of the main cities, so you can choose on your UK starting point as much as your final destination.
Direct ferries from England to Holland
The three direct ferry routes are not interchangeable. They land in different parts of the Netherlands and work best for different UK starting points.
Harwich to Hook of Holland
This is usually the strongest choice for London, East Anglia and anyone travelling without a car. It is the only direct UK-Netherlands route with a regular daytime crossing as well as overnight sailings, and it connects well with onward public transport via Hook of Holland.
Hull to Rotterdam
This is the practical overnight route for Yorkshire, the Midlands and much of northern England. It works especially well if you are taking a car, camper or motorhome and want to sleep through most of the North Sea crossing. Remember that the ferry arrives at Rotterdam Europoort, not in Rotterdam city centre.
Newcastle to Amsterdam
This is the most logical option from North East England, Northumberland and Scotland. DFDS markets the route as Newcastle-Amsterdam, but the Dutch port is IJmuiden. From there, shuttle and onward transport options connect you with Amsterdam and the wider Netherlands.
Route verdicts
- Choose Harwich-Hook of Holland if you are starting from London or East Anglia, travelling by train, or want the most flexible direct route with day and night options.
- Choose Hull-Rotterdam if you are coming from Yorkshire, the Midlands or northern England and want a proper overnight crossing with your car, camper or motorhome.
- Choose Newcastle-Amsterdam if you are travelling from Scotland, North East England or Northumberland, or if Amsterdam is the focus of the trip.
- Choose Dover-Dunkirk or Dover-Calais if you are already close to Dover and prefer a short Channel crossing followed by the drive through Belgium.
For route-specific details, use our guides to Harwich to Hook of Holland, Hull to Rotterdam and Newcastle to Amsterdam.
Our UK-Netherlands ferry experience
We’ve sailed all three direct UK-Netherlands routes, so this page is built around more than a list of operators and sailing times. The differences matter: Harwich-Hook of Holland feels like a practical rail-and-ferry corridor, Hull-Rotterdam is a classic overnight car-ferry route, and Newcastle-Amsterdam is a longer mini-cruise-style crossing into IJmuiden.
Harwich to Hook of Holland ferry: our overnight Rail & Sail experience from London (Captain's Class)
On board the Hull-Rotterdam ferry: our experience
On board the Stena Britannica between Harwich and Hook of Holland
Newcastle to Amsterdam by ferry: what the crossing is actually like
Prices and availability
Prices on UK-Netherlands ferries change a lot by season, vehicle, cabin type, passenger numbers and how early you book. The cheapest-looking fare is not always the best option once you add a car, cabin or flexible ticket.
Use the booking options below to compare live availability for the direct routes. If you are considering the Dover route via France, compare the ferry price together with the extra fuel, tolls and driving time.
UK to Netherlands ferry deals
Before you book, it is worth checking the current ferry offers for these routes. These are the live FerryGoGo discount codes for crossings to the Netherlands.
DFDS discount code: 10% off sailings to Amsterdam
Stena Discount code for 20% off sailings to Holland
On board the ferries to the Netherlands
The direct North Sea crossings are part of the trip, especially on the overnight routes. Expect cabins on Hull-Rotterdam and Newcastle-Amsterdam, and a choice of day or night sailings on Harwich-Hook of Holland. The gallery below includes photos from our own UK-Netherlands ferry crossings.
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- Ferries from England to the Netherlands + alternatives. From North to South: (1) Newcastle – Amsterdam (2) Hull-Rotterdam (3) Harwich-Hook of Holland. And alternatives via France (4) Dover-Dunkirk (5) Dover-Calais.
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- Ferries from the UK to the Netherlands: 3 direct crossings, 2 via France. From north to south: Newcastle to Amsterdam, Hull to Rotterdam, Harwich to Hoek van Holland. Via France: Dover-Dunkirk and Dover-Calais.
Check-in and boarding
Check-in times vary by operator, route and whether you are travelling with a vehicle or as a foot passenger. As a rule, do not plan to arrive at the last minute. Longer overnight crossings often start boarding well before departure, which is useful if you want to settle into your cabin, eat on board or travel with children.
Always use the check-in time on your booking confirmation as the final source, especially in peak season or when travelling with a car, pet, bike or camper.
Travelling to the Netherlands via France
The direct ferries are not always the best answer for every UK traveller. If you are starting in southern England, a short ferry from Dover to Dunkirk or Calais followed by the drive through Belgium can be a practical alternative.
Dover-Dunkirk is especially worth checking for the Netherlands because Dunkirk is closer to the Dutch border than Calais. Dover-Calais usually gives you the highest sailing frequency, which can be useful if flexibility matters more than the shortest drive after arrival.
To give a sense of the drive afterwards, here are rough times to Utrecht in the central Netherlands: around 3 hours 15 minutes from Dunkirk and around 3 hours 30 minutes from Calais. Depending on where you are heading, the drive from northern France to the Netherlands is usually in the region of 6 to 8 hours.
If you are starting further west, near Portsmouth, Poole or Plymouth, it can also be worth comparing a Brittany Ferries crossing to France and then driving north. It is a longer drive on the continent, but it can suit travellers who are nowhere near Dover. See our ferry to France from Portsmouth guide for those routes.
This route is not as relaxing as an overnight North Sea ferry, and it adds several hours of driving on the continent. But for some trips it can be cheaper, more flexible or simply more convenient from southern England.
For a broader comparison of Channel crossings, see our ferry to France from the UK guide, plus our specific route guides for Dover to Calais and Dover to Dunkirk.
Ferry schedule and timetable
As a general pattern, Hull-Rotterdam and Newcastle-Amsterdam operate as overnight crossings, while Harwich-Hook of Holland usually gives you both a day and night option. Timetables can still change by season, day of week, weather and operational adjustments, so use this page for route choice and check live sailing times before booking.
If you travel via France, there are normally many more Channel sailings across the day, especially on Dover-Calais and Dover-Dunkirk. That extra flexibility comes with more driving after arrival.
Practical tips before you book
- Passport: UK travellers need a valid passport for the Netherlands. A driving licence is not enough for border control.
- Car or no car: Harwich-Hook works especially well without a car. Hull-Rotterdam and Newcastle-Amsterdam are strongest when you are using the ferry as part of a wider road trip.
- Cabins: overnight crossings are much more comfortable with a cabin, especially with children or an early onward drive.
- Pets: rules vary by operator and route, so check the current requirements before booking. Our travelling with pets on ferries guide explains the main points.
- Onboard Wi-Fi and roaming: download films, series or maps before sailing. Roaming at sea can be expensive.
- Driving in the Netherlands: remember to switch to the right-hand side of the road after arrival.
- Travelling with kids: for longer overnight routes, see our tips for travelling with children on the ferry.
Jan Willem van Tilburg
Useful for travellers to the Netherlands
I'm just having a look at the overnight trips from Harwich to Hook of Holland. I was looking on Thursday 30th July. It says that all the pet friendly cabins are sold out but are there normally pet friendly cabins on that ship and they are actually sold out or is it that that particular vessel doesn't have any pet friendly cabins? Just wondering because we could maybe travel on a different Thursday and I could have a look at other dates. My wife and I would be travelling with our kids; 5, 4 and 2 so sorting out suitable cabins would be important!
Kind regards,
Phil Hellary