Updated: 7 July 2026
A new ferry from the Netherlands to Norway has moved a serious step closer. Funding is now in place for a new quay at Eemshaven in the north of the Netherlands, making a planned passenger and freight ferry route to Arendal in southern Norway possible from 2028.
For UK travellers, this is not the direct Newcastle-Norway ferry many people still want back. But it is still very relevant. If the route goes ahead, Britain to Norway by ferry could become much easier again: cross from the UK to the Netherlands, drive north to Eemshaven, then sail directly to Norway instead of continuing all the way to Kiel or Hirtshals.
That matters because British ferry travellers are clearly asking for better Scandinavian links. In our UK Ferry Travel Survey 2026, 56.9% of respondents said a UK to Norway route was the direct ferry they would most like to see return. More broadly, 74.6% chose a Scandinavian route: Norway, Sweden or Denmark.
So this is not the exact route British travellers asked for. But it could still solve part of the same problem: too much driving, too few direct sea links, and a missing ferry corridor towards Norway.
For the current options, start with our main guide to the ferry to Norway from the UK.
What is the Eemshaven-Arendal ferry plan?
The plan is for a new RoPax ferry route between Eemshaven in the Netherlands and Arendal in southern Norway. RoPax means the route would carry both passengers and freight, with space for cars, trucks and other vehicles.
The Norwegian side is linked to Arendal, with Eydehavn often mentioned in the route context. Eydehavn is around 6 miles from Arendal, so for travellers the route is best understood as Eemshaven-Arendal: a Netherlands-Norway ferry landing on the south coast of Norway.
Njordic Ferry Lines is the company behind the proposed service. Earlier plans talked about a 2027 start, but the more realistic timing is now from 2028, linked to construction of the new ferry quay and terminal facilities at Eemshaven.
Route map: Eemshaven-Arendal
What has changed since our first report?
When this route was first discussed, the idea was promising but still depended heavily on Dutch-side decisions around the port and quay. The route was being talked about with a possible 2027 launch, but the infrastructure commitment was not yet complete.
The new development is more concrete. Groningen Seaports has announced a positive financing decision for a new quay at Eemshaven. The total investment is around €76 million: €36 million through the Nij Begun economic agenda and €40 million from Groningen Seaports.
That is important because the new quay is the main infrastructure condition for the ferry. Without a suitable fixed berth and passenger/freight handling setup, a long-distance ferry route can be fragile. With the quay funded, the project has moved from a promising route idea to a more serious 2028 possibility.
That does not mean tickets are available. There is still no confirmed timetable, no confirmed booking start, no published passenger fare structure, no final cabin information and no confirmed passenger-facing ship details.
Why this matters for UK travellers
There is currently no direct ferry from the UK to Norway. The old Newcastle-Bergen-Stavanger route is long gone, and every practical sea route to Norway now involves reaching the European mainland first.
Today, the usual ferry-based choices are:
- take a ferry from the UK to the Netherlands, then drive to Kiel for the Kiel-Oslo ferry;
- take a ferry from the UK to the Netherlands or France, then drive through Germany and Denmark to Hirtshals;
- fly to Norway and hire a car, which is quicker but removes the road-trip, campervan and luggage advantages many ferry travellers want.
A Netherlands-Norway ferry would not remove the first UK-Netherlands leg, but it could remove a large chunk of the onward mainland drive. Instead of crossing to the Netherlands and then driving deep into Germany or all the way to northern Denmark, travellers could continue to Eemshaven and sail from there to Arendal.
That is why this route is interesting for British drivers, motorhome owners, caravan travellers, dog owners and anyone who wants to keep the ferry as part of the journey rather than turning Norway into a flight-and-car-hire trip.
How would a UK to Norway journey via Eemshaven work?
The likely route would be a two-stage ferry journey:
- Sail from the UK to the Netherlands.
- Drive to Eemshaven in the north of the Netherlands.
- Sail from Eemshaven to Arendal in southern Norway.
The first leg depends on where you live in Britain. FerryGoGo already compares the main direct UK-Netherlands routes: Newcastle-Amsterdam, Hull-Rotterdam and Harwich-Hook of Holland. They are not interchangeable, and the best choice depends heavily on your starting point.
From Scotland and North East England: Newcastle-Amsterdam
If you are starting in Scotland, Northumberland, the North East or parts of northern England, Newcastle-Amsterdam is the natural first leg to compare. It is a long overnight crossing to IJmuiden, west of Amsterdam, and puts you on the Dutch side of the North Sea without needing to drive south through England first.
This route already works well as the first stage of a northern Europe road trip. If Eemshaven-Arendal starts operating, it could become even more relevant for UK to Norway journeys.
From Yorkshire, the Midlands and northern England: Hull-Rotterdam
For Yorkshire, the Midlands and much of northern England, Hull-Rotterdam is often the most practical UK-Netherlands ferry. It is an overnight crossing with cabins and works well for cars, caravans, motorhomes and families who want to avoid a long drive to the South East before even reaching the ferry.
From Rotterdam Europoort, you would still need to drive north-east across the Netherlands to reach Eemshaven. But compared with pushing on to Kiel or Hirtshals, this could still make the Norway journey feel shorter and more ferry-led.
From London, East Anglia and the South East: Harwich-Hook of Holland
For London, East Anglia and the South East, Harwich-Hook of Holland is the most flexible direct ferry to the Netherlands. It has both day and overnight options and is the strongest UK-Netherlands route for foot passengers and Rail & Sail travellers.
For a car or campervan trip to Norway, Hook of Holland also gives you a direct landing point in the Netherlands before driving north to Eemshaven.
Quick comparison: what could this change?
| Route idea | Status | Why it matters for UK travellers |
|---|---|---|
| Direct UK-Norway ferry | Not operating | Still the route British ferry travellers most want back |
| UK-Netherlands plus Eemshaven-Arendal | Possible from 2028, not bookable yet | Could cut out much of the long drive to Kiel or Hirtshals |
| UK-Netherlands plus Kiel-Oslo | Operating now | Best current comfort route if you are heading for Oslo or eastern Norway |
| UK-Netherlands plus Hirtshals routes | Operating now | Best current route group for Kristiansand, Larvik, Stavanger or Bergen |
Would this replace Kiel-Oslo or Hirtshals?
Not for everyone. Even if Eemshaven-Arendal starts in 2028, Kiel-Oslo and the Denmark-Norway routes will still matter.
Kiel-Oslo is still likely to be the premium comfort route if your destination is Oslo, eastern Norway or the mountain areas north of Oslo. It is a long overnight crossing and feels closer to a mini-cruise than a simple transport leg.
Hirtshals-Kristiansand, Hirtshals-Larvik, Hirtshals-Stavanger and Hirtshals-Bergen will still be relevant if you are heading for southern or western Norway and do not mind the longer drive through Denmark.
Eemshaven-Arendal would be different. It would be especially interesting if you want to reduce the mainland drive after reaching the Netherlands, arrive on Norway's south coast, and keep more of the journey on the water.
For current routes via Denmark, see our guide to the ferry to Norway from Denmark. For the Dutch route context, see our page on the ferry to Norway from the Netherlands.
Where is Arendal, and who would it suit?
Arendal is on Norway's south coast, east of Kristiansand. It is not the same arrival port as the old Holland Norway Lines route to Kristiansand, but it is in the same broad southern Norway region.
That makes it potentially useful for trips to:
- southern Norway and the Agder coast;
- Telemark and the inland routes north of the coast;
- the Oslo region, depending on your onward route;
- longer road trips that start in the south and continue north or west.
For the western fjords, Bergen, Stavanger or the north-west, a Denmark-Norway route may still be more practical. The best route will depend on the final sailing times, fare levels, cabin options and your real destination in Norway.
Can you book Eemshaven-Arendal yet?
No. This is the key point for travellers: the route is not bookable yet.
The new quay funding makes the route more realistic, but several pieces are still missing from a passenger point of view. We do not yet have a confirmed timetable, booking opening date, final ship allocation, sailing duration, fare structure, cabin details, pet policy or vehicle rules.
For 2026 and 2027 trips, plan with the routes that already operate. For 2028 and beyond, Eemshaven-Arendal is now a route worth watching closely.
What happened to the old Eemshaven-Kristiansand ferry?
This is not the first Netherlands-Norway ferry idea from Eemshaven. Holland Norway Lines operated between Eemshaven and Kristiansand in 2022 and 2023, before moving departures to Emden in Germany and later ceasing operations after the company went bankrupt.
The old route showed that demand existed, but it also exposed how fragile a ferry service can be without the right port setup. The lack of a fixed, suitable berth in Eemshaven was one of the major practical weaknesses. That is why the new quay is not a side detail. It is the foundation the new project needs before a stable route can work.
The proposed Eemshaven-Arendal route is also not a simple copy of the old Holland Norway Lines service. It has a different Norwegian port, a stronger freight focus, and is being planned around purpose-built port facilities rather than trying to fit into an imperfect berth situation.
Why the quay matters
A ferry route is not only about the ship. It needs a reliable berth, terminal setup, freight handling, road access, border facilities and a port arrangement that works all year. Without that, even a popular route can become vulnerable.
The new Eemshaven quay is designed to support both passenger and freight traffic. That mix could be important, because freight can help make a long-distance ferry route more resilient outside the main holiday season.
That is the big difference between a hopeful route announcement and a more serious project. Funding for a dedicated quay does not guarantee the ferry will start, but it removes one of the biggest practical obstacles.
What our UK ferry survey tells us
This news lands at an interesting moment. FerryGoGo's UK Ferry Travel Survey 2026 found that missing routes are a bigger barrier than price for many ferry-interested travellers. 74.1% said lack of direct routes is one of the biggest barriers to taking the ferry more often, compared with 27.4% who named price.
Norway was the clearest route gap. 56.9% of respondents said a UK to Norway route was the direct ferry they would most like to see launched or return, ahead of every other route idea in the survey.
Eemshaven-Arendal does not answer that request perfectly because it is not a ferry from Britain. But it does point in the same direction: travellers want routes that reduce the total journey, make road trips easier, and let them take their own car, campervan, caravan or dog without defaulting to flying.
What readers are telling us
The reaction from readers has been exactly what we expected. This is not the direct UK-Norway ferry people dream about, but for road trips, campervans and wild-camping-style Norway holidays, it could still make a real difference.
That is the practical appeal. The missing UK-Norway ferry is not just nostalgia. It is about making Norway reachable in a way that suits the people who like ferries most: travellers with their own car, motorhome, dog, luggage, outdoor kit and time to enjoy the journey.
Our verdict
This is the most relevant Norway ferry news for UK travellers since the latest Newcastle-Norway revival discussions. It is not the dream result – a direct ferry from Britain to Norway – but it could still make a big difference.
If the route starts in 2028, the journey from the UK to Norway could become more balanced again: overnight ferry to the Netherlands, a manageable drive to Eemshaven, then a second ferry straight to southern Norway. For many travellers, that will feel much more appealing than driving all the way to northern Denmark.
Our advice is simple: do not build a 2026 or 2027 trip around this route. It is not bookable yet. But if you are planning a future Norway road trip with a car, campervan, caravan or dog, Eemshaven-Arendal is now one to watch.
Until then, compare the current options in our guides to the ferry to Norway from the UK, the ferry to the Netherlands from the UK, the ferry to Norway from the Netherlands and the ferries from Denmark to Norway.
Sources
- Groningen Seaports: new quay makes Eemshaven-Arendal connection possible
- Nij Begun: positive decision on new quay for Eemshaven-Norway connection
- RTV Noord: funding for new Eemshaven quay is in place
- NOS: new port section at Eemshaven for Norway ferry
- MT Logistikk: RoPax route planned from the first half of 2028
- FerryGoGo UK Ferry Travel Survey 2026
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