Netherlands-Norway ferry moves closer: why UK travellers should watch Eemshaven-Arendal

Updated: 1 July 2026

A future ferry from the Netherlands to Norway has moved a serious step closer. Funding is now in place for a new, larger quay at Eemshaven in the north of the Netherlands, making a planned 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 UK 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 route British travellers asked for exactly. 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 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 start, but the infrastructure commitment was not yet complete.

The new development is more concrete. The Dutch port of Eemshaven is set to get a new quay that can support a regular passenger and freight ferry route to Norway. The planned route would run from Eemshaven to Arendal, on Norway's south coast.

The total investment is around €76 million. €36 million is being made available through the Nij Begun economic agenda, while Groningen Seaports will finance the remaining €40 million. With that decision, the main infrastructure condition for the route has moved from idea to funded project.

The target is to make a structural passenger and freight connection between northern Netherlands and southern Norway possible from 2028. That does not mean tickets are available yet. There is still no final timetable, no confirmed booking start, no confirmed ship information for passengers and no fare structure.

Why this is relevant to British 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 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 revived Netherlands-Norway ferry would not remove the first UK-Netherlands leg, but it could remove a large chunk of the onward drive. Instead of crossing to Holland 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:

1. Sail from the UK to the Netherlands.
2. Drive to Eemshaven in the north of the Netherlands.
3. Sail from Eemshaven to Arendal in southern Norway.

The first leg depends on where you live in Britain. FerryGoGo already compares the three 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, ship allocation, sailing duration, fare structure, cabin details, pet policy, vehicle rules or booking opening date.

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.

Why the quay matters

The previous Netherlands-Norway ferry had demand, but the Eemshaven operation was weakened by the lack of a fixed, suitable berth. Holland Norway Lines later moved the route to Germany and eventually ceased operations.

That is why the quay funding matters. A ferry route is not only about the ship. It needs a reliable berth, terminal setup, freight handling, road access and a port arrangement that works year-round. Without that, even a popular route can become fragile.

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.

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 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
• Eemskrant: funding makes ferry service to Norway possible
• FerryGoGo UK Ferry Travel Survey 2026