Ferries to Holland sail from three ports on the east coast of England — Harwich, Hull and Newcastle — to three ports in the Netherlands: Hook of Holland, Europoort and IJmuiden.
Each English port pairs with one Dutch port and one operator, so your choice of port decides your whole route. This guide runs through each one, with how to get there and what to expect.
English ferry ports
Harwich
Quick facts:
- Route: Harwich–Hook of Holland (Stena Line)
- Location: Essex, east England
- Rail: Harwich International station at the terminal
- Best for: London and the south-east; Rail & Sail
Harwich, in Essex, runs the Stena Line crossing to Hook of Holland — the fastest and most frequent route to Holland. The International station is right at the terminal, making it excellent for foot passengers and the Rail & Sail service from London.
Hull
Quick facts:
- Route: Hull–Rotterdam (P&O Ferries)
- Location: East Yorkshire
- Terminal: King George Dock
- Best for: the Midlands, Yorkshire and the north
Hull, on the Humber, runs the P&O overnight crossing to Rotterdam from King George Dock. Buses connect the port with Hull's Paragon Interchange in the city. It's the natural port for travellers from Yorkshire, the Midlands and the north.
Newcastle
Quick facts:
- Route: Newcastle–Amsterdam (DFDS)
- Location: North Shields, Port of Tyne
- Onward: DFDS bus to Newcastle city centre
- Best for: the north-east and Scotland
The Newcastle ferry actually sails from North Shields on the Port of Tyne, running the DFDS overnight crossing to IJmuiden for Amsterdam. A DFDS bus links the terminal with Newcastle city centre. It's the best port for the north-east and Scotland.
Dutch ferry ports
Hook of Holland
Quick facts:
- Route: from Harwich (Stena Line)
- Location: near Rotterdam, on the coast
- Onward: metro to Rotterdam, then trains nationwide
- Best for: Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht and Amsterdam
Hook of Holland (Hoek van Holland) is the arrival port for the Stena route, well connected by metro to Rotterdam and onward trains across the Netherlands. It's the most flexible Dutch arrival point, within easy reach of Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht and Amsterdam.
Europoort (Rotterdam)
Quick facts:
- Route: from Hull (P&O Ferries)
- Location: about 37km from central Rotterdam
- Onward: pre-bookable P&O coach into the city
- Best for: Rotterdam, southern Netherlands, Belgium, Germany
Europoort is the arrival port for the Hull route, in the vast Port of Rotterdam about 37km from the city centre. P&O runs a pre-bookable coach transfer into central Rotterdam, and the location suits drivers heading to the southern Netherlands, Belgium and western Germany.
IJmuiden (Amsterdam)
Quick facts:
- Route: from Newcastle (DFDS)
- Location: coast, about 30 minutes from Amsterdam
- Onward: DFDS coach transfer to Amsterdam
- Best for: Amsterdam and the northern Netherlands
IJmuiden is the arrival port for the Newcastle route, on the coast about half an hour from central Amsterdam. DFDS offers a coach transfer into the city, making it the direct gateway to the Dutch capital and the north of the country.
Which port should you choose?
A quick way to decide:
- •
Fastest crossing, best rail links: Harwich to Hook of Holland
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For Rotterdam and the south: Hull to Europoort
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For Amsterdam and the north: Newcastle to IJmuiden
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Getting there: your nearest English east-coast port usually decides the route
Frequently Asked Questions
Which UK ports have ferries to Holland?
Harwich in Essex, Hull in East Yorkshire, and Newcastle (North Shields) on the Port of Tyne.
Which Dutch ports do the ferries arrive at?
Hook of Holland (from Harwich), Europoort near Rotterdam (from Hull), and IJmuiden near Amsterdam (from Newcastle).
Which port is best for Amsterdam?
IJmuiden, the arrival port for the Newcastle route, about 30 minutes from the city.
Which port is best for Rotterdam?
Europoort, the arrival port for the Hull route, with a coach transfer into central Rotterdam.
Does the Newcastle ferry leave from Newcastle?
It sails from North Shields on the Port of Tyne, with a DFDS bus link to Newcastle city centre.