New IJmuiden-Kristiansand ferry could launch in 2027

A new ferry between IJmuiden and Kristiansand could make travelling from the UK to Norway by car considerably easier. Dutch initiative NedNorge is working on plans for a direct passenger and freight ferry between the Netherlands and Norway, with a possible launch in 2027. For British travellers, this could create an attractive new way to reach southern Norway via the Netherlands.

Update 28 August 2026: The project has moved another step forward. NedNorge has held further talks with the Port of Kristiansand, with discussions now focusing on practical and operational matters such as port access and how three weekly sailings could fit alongside existing ferry traffic and other port activities. Ron Eekels, one of the people behind the project, says further progress has been made. NedNorge is also now referring to a specific vessel with capacity for both freight and passengers, including travellers with cars, motorhomes and motorcycles. The vessel has not yet been publicly named. The group also says it is seeing significant interest from the freight sector.

The plans were first reported in more detail by Norwegian broadcaster NRK. Speaking to NRK, Eekels estimated the chance of the route going ahead at ’95 percent’. That is his own assessment of the project rather than confirmation that the ferry will definitely launch in 2027.

Three sailings a week from IJmuiden to Kristiansand

If the plans go ahead, the IJmuiden-Kristiansand ferry is expected to operate three times a week from 2027. The service is being developed for both freight and passengers. Travellers should be able to use the ferry on foot or with a car, motorhome or motorcycle.

Freight appears to be an important part of the business case. NedNorge says it is experiencing significant interest from the transport sector in a direct connection between the Netherlands and southern Norway. That matters because freight can help support a long-distance ferry service outside the main summer holiday season.

IJmuiden is located on the Dutch North Sea coast, close to Amsterdam. This makes the proposed route particularly interesting for British travellers, as the Netherlands is already directly accessible by ferry from several UK ports.

Further talks with the Port of Kristiansand

One of the most important questions is how the new service could be accommodated in Kristiansand. That is particularly relevant because berth availability was one of the operational problems faced by Holland Norway Lines.

NedNorge returned to Kristiansand in August for further discussions with the port. According to Eekels, the talks now cover practical issues such as port accessibility and how the proposed timetable could be fitted around existing ferry services and other port operations.

The Port of Kristiansand had already responded positively to the proposal and, according to NRK, has signed a letter of intent with the Dutch initiative. The latest talks suggest the project is moving beyond the initial idea stage, although key operational and commercial agreements have not yet been confirmed publicly.

A vessel appears to be in the picture

There is also a small but important development regarding the ship itself. NedNorge is now referring to ‘the vessel’ and says it has sufficient capacity for both freight and passengers, including those travelling with a car, motorhome or motorcycle.

That suggests a specific ship is now under consideration. However, the name of the vessel has not been made public and there is no confirmed information yet about whether a charter or purchase agreement has been completed.

Passenger capacity, cabin numbers, vehicle capacity and the expected crossing time between IJmuiden and Kristiansand have also not yet been announced.

A new way to travel from the UK to Norway?

There is currently no direct passenger ferry from the UK to Norway. Travellers taking their own car, motorhome or caravan generally have to sail to mainland Europe first and then continue towards northern Germany or Denmark before taking another ferry to Norway.

The proposed IJmuiden-Kristiansand ferry could offer a much more convenient alternative. British travellers could take an existing ferry to the Netherlands and then continue by sea to southern Norway, potentially avoiding much of the long drive through Germany and Denmark.

This could be particularly convenient for passengers using the Newcastle-Amsterdam ferry, which arrives in IJmuiden itself. We have travelled this DFDS crossing ourselves, and the location is what makes the proposal especially interesting: travellers could potentially sail from Newcastle to IJmuiden and then continue to Norway from the same Dutch port.

That would effectively create a two-ferry route from the UK to southern Norway with very little long-distance driving on the continent. Whether it would work smoothly in practice will depend heavily on the final sailing times.

No detailed timetable or terminal arrangement has been announced yet, so we do not know whether Newcastle-IJmuiden and IJmuiden-Kristiansand sailings would connect conveniently. An overnight stay in or around IJmuiden could still be necessary.

There is clearly interest in a simpler North Sea connection. In our UK Ferry Travel Survey 2026, 56.9% of the 197 respondents selected a direct UK-Norway ferry as the missing ferry route they would most like to see. IJmuiden-Kristiansand would not be a direct UK service, but it could solve part of the same problem by removing much of the drive through Germany and Denmark.

Return of the Netherlands-Norway ferry

A direct ferry between the Netherlands and Norway is not a new concept. Holland Norway Lines launched a service between Eemshaven and Kristiansand in 2022. The service later moved away from Eemshaven, eventually operating from Emden in Germany, before Holland Norway Lines ceased operations in 2023.

The previous service showed the appeal of a direct Netherlands-Norway connection, but also how much is required to make a long-distance ferry route work. Alongside passenger demand, an operator needs suitable port facilities, reliable berth access, freight traffic and a business model that works beyond the busiest holiday periods.

There is also a separate proposal for a ferry between Eemshaven and Arendal. That project is currently working towards a possible 2028 start and should not be confused with the new IJmuiden-Kristiansand proposal.

The two projects are therefore at different stages. IJmuiden-Kristiansand is currently targeting an earlier 2027 launch with three weekly sailings, while Eemshaven-Arendal is working towards 2028. Neither route is currently available to book.

If both projects eventually go ahead, the Netherlands could have two direct passenger ferry routes to southern Norway for the first time since the collapse of Holland Norway Lines.

View the current ferry routes between the Netherlands and Norway on the map.

What about a direct UK-Norway ferry?

For British travellers, the simplest solution would still be the return of a direct ferry between the UK and Norway. There is currently no such passenger service, although there have been several proposals and discussions about restoring a North Sea connection.

You can follow the latest plans for a possible Newcastle-Norway ferry, but there is currently no confirmed operator, vessel, timetable or booking date. For now, the Dutch proposals appear more concrete for travellers hoping to reach Norway with their own vehicle via mainland Europe.

Not yet available to book

The planned IJmuiden-Kristiansand ferry is not yet available to book. Although NedNorge is now referring to a proposed vessel, its name has not yet been announced. There is also no confirmed detailed timetable, crossing time, ticket price or exact launch date.

Information about cabins, travelling with pets and the exact onboard passenger facilities is also still unknown.

For UK travellers planning a future road trip to Norway, however, the route is becoming increasingly interesting. The latest talks with Kristiansand, the reference to a suitable vessel and reported freight interest are all positive signs, but they are not yet a final confirmation that the service will launch.

Until a vessel, timetable and ticket sales are confirmed, we would still plan around the ferry routes to Norway that operate today. We will update this page as soon as more concrete information becomes available.

Sources and further reading

• NRK Sørlandet – reporting on the NedNorge IJmuiden-Kristiansand proposal and discussions in Kristiansand.
• KRS – latest Norwegian reporting on the project, including further talks in Kristiansand and reported interest in the route.
• Ron Eekels / NedNorge – August 2026 update on further discussions with Kristiansand, the proposed vessel and freight interest.
• FerryGoGo – latest Eemshaven-Arendal ferry development.
• FerryGoGo – UK Ferry Travel Survey findings on demand for a UK-Norway ferry.

Last updated: 28 August 2026. We will update this article when the vessel, detailed timetable, port arrangements or ticket sales are confirmed.