Ferries between Amsterdam and the United Kingdom

There is no ferry from London to Amsterdam. No passenger ship sails from the Thames to the Dutch capital, and the ferries from Dover only go to France. What you can do is take one of three ferry routes from the east coast of England to a Dutch port and travel on to Amsterdam from there:

• Harwich to Hook of Holland with Stena Line: the closest port to London and the shortest crossing, about 7 hours by day.
• Newcastle to Amsterdam (IJmuiden) with DFDS: the only route that docks near Amsterdam itself, an overnight crossing of about 16¾ hours.
• Hull to Rotterdam (Europoort) with P&O Ferries: an overnight crossing of 11.5 to 12 hours.

The ferry is slower than the Eurostar or a flight. In return you can bring your own car, your bikes and as much luggage as you like, and on the overnight routes your cabin replaces a night in a hotel. Below we compare the three routes, explain how to get from each port to Amsterdam and show how the ferry compares with the train, plane, bus and car.

The three ferry routes from the UK to the Netherlands compared

Fares are one way and rise quickly as your travel date gets closer. Always check the operator’s site for the price on your date.

Harwich to Hook of Holland (Stena Line)

The closest route to London. Trains from Liverpool Street reach Harwich International in about 1.5 hours, and the Stena Britannica and Stena Hollandica sail twice a day in each direction: a daytime crossing of about 7 hours and a night crossing with a cabin. You can buy the train and the ferry on one Rail & Sail ticket.

Newcastle to Amsterdam (DFDS)

The only route that ends close to Amsterdam. The ferry docks in IJmuiden, and a DFDS coach takes you to Amsterdam Centraal in about 45 minutes. At almost 17 hours it is the longest crossing, so it suits travellers from the north, or anyone who wants a mini cruise with a buffet and live music. We sailed it ourselves: read our DFDS Amsterdam to Newcastle ferry review.

Hull to Rotterdam (P&O Ferries)

An overnight crossing on the Pride of Hull or the Pride of Rotterdam. You arrive at Europoort, west of Rotterdam, the next morning. A P&O bus takes foot passengers to Rotterdam Centraal, where trains to Amsterdam run frequently. A good choice if you want to see Rotterdam before heading to Amsterdam.

Which ferry to Amsterdam should you take?

Start from where you live in the UK and whether you are bringing a car.

London to Amsterdam by train and ferry via Harwich

For foot passengers from London, this is the most practical ferry route. Greater Anglia trains run from London Liverpool Street to Harwich International, the station next to the ferry terminal, in about 1.5 hours. With the Rail & Sail ticket you pay one price for the train to Harwich and the Stena Line crossing, from £58 one way on a day sailing. You need to book at least 7 days ahead, the ticket is non-refundable and it does not cover the metro and train in the Netherlands.

Times are examples from the 2026 timetable and change on weekends and holidays. On the night sailing a cabin is compulsory, so add it to your booking. By day a cabin is optional, and handy if you want a nap or a quiet place to work. Both ships have restaurants, bars, shops and a cinema.
If you drive, Harwich is about 2 hours from central London. Stena Line fares for a car and driver start at £93.50 one way.

From Hook of Holland to Amsterdam

Metro line B stops at Hoek van Holland Haven, a short walk from the ferry terminal. Take it to Schiedam Centrum (about 25 minutes) and change to a train to Amsterdam Centraal (about an hour). You can check in on both the metro and the train with a contactless bank card, so you don’t need to buy a ticket beforehand. Plan your connection with the 9292 journey planner below.
By car, Amsterdam is about 80 km away: roughly 1 hour 15 minutes via the A20 and A4, outside rush hour.

Newcastle to Amsterdam with DFDS: our experience

DFDS sells this route as Newcastle to Amsterdam, but the ferry leaves from North Shields, about 30 minutes from Newcastle city centre, and docks in IJmuiden on the Dutch coast. A DFDS coach runs between each terminal and the city centre and connects with the ferry; book it together with your crossing.

In June 2026 we sailed IJmuiden to Newcastle and back with a group of nine friends and paid for it ourselves. We paid about €192 per person return, including a berth in a 5-berth sea view cabin, two dinner buffets and two breakfasts. We booked almost eight months ahead; when we checked the same trip a few months later, the price had more than doubled.
What we liked: the dinner buffet was much better than we expected, the staff were friendly, and the Columbus Club bar with its live band made the evening. What we liked less: the basic cabins got very hot in summer and the window doesn’t open, wifi costs extra, and getting off the ship in North Shields took 30 to 45 minutes.
From London, this route only makes sense if you combine it with a trip to the north. The train from King’s Cross to Newcastle takes about 3 hours, and you need to be in Newcastle by early afternoon for the coach to the terminal.
Read our full DFDS ferry review for the cabins, food, prices and our tips for booking.

The standard cabins on the DFDS ferry are clean, yet simple

There are more spacious commodore cabins too, they cost approximately 40% more than the standard cabins

Hull to Rotterdam with P&O Ferries

P&O Ferries sails every evening from Hull to Europoort, the port area west of Rotterdam. From Hull the ferry leaves at 20:30 on weekdays and 20:00 at weekends, and arrives the next morning after a crossing of 11.5 to 12 hours. In the other direction the ferry leaves Rotterdam in the evening as well. Your fare includes a cabin; sharing a 2-bed cabin as a foot passenger starts at about £75 per person.
Foot passengers can book two connecting buses with their ticket: one from Hull railway station to the ferry terminal, and one from Europoort to Rotterdam Centraal, which takes about 40 minutes. From Rotterdam Centraal the Intercity Direct reaches Amsterdam in about 40 minutes (you pay a small supplement), or take a regular intercity, which takes a little over an hour.
From London, trains from King’s Cross reach Hull in about 2 hours 40 minutes. If you drive, Amsterdam is a little over an hour from Europoort.

Ferry vs train, plane, bus and car from London to Amsterdam

If you travel light and want to get there quickly, the Eurostar from London to Amsterdam is hard to beat. The ferry wins when you bring a car, bikes or a lot of luggage, or when you want to arrive rested after a night’s sleep.

On a budget and not in a hurry? See our guide to the bus from London to Amsterdam. For all options side by side, start at our London to Amsterdam overview.

Travel documents for the ferry

Travelling from the Netherlands to the UK with an EU passport? Most EU travellers need a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), also when you arrive by ferry. It costs £20 and you apply through the official UK government website or app. Other websites charge extra for the same thing.
British travellers don’t need an ETA for the Netherlands, but since April 2026 the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) is fully in use. On your first crossing your fingerprints and a photo are taken at the border instead of a passport stamp, so allow extra time.

Plan your onward journey in the Netherlands

Once you are off the ferry, the Dutch public transport system takes you almost anywhere. Most people in the Netherlands use the 9292 site or app for real-time travel information:

1. Fill in your departure location, for example Hoek van Holland Haven
2. Fill in the time and date of departure
3. Fill in your destination, and you’re good to go

FAQ about the ferry from London to Amsterdam

Is there a ferry from London to Amsterdam?
No. There is no direct ferry from London. The closest route is Harwich to Hook of Holland with Stena Line; Harwich is about 1.5 hours from London by train.
How long is the ferry from the UK to Amsterdam?
Harwich to Hook of Holland takes about 7 hours by day and 8 hours overnight, Hull to Rotterdam 11.5 to 12 hours, and Newcastle to IJmuiden about 16¾ hours. Add the journey from the Dutch port to Amsterdam: about 45 minutes from IJmuiden, 1.5 hours from Hook of Holland and 2 hours from Europoort.
Is there a ferry from Dover to Amsterdam?
No. Ferries from Dover sail to Calais and Dunkirk in France. From there it is a drive of about 3.5 to 4 hours to Amsterdam.
Can I take my car on the ferry to Amsterdam?
Yes, on all three routes. If you only want to bring the car and don’t care about the crossing, the Channel Tunnel plus the drive through France and Belgium is usually faster.
Do I need a cabin?
On the overnight sailings, yes: on Stena Line’s night crossing a cabin is compulsory and on the DFDS and P&O routes the fare includes one. On Stena Line’s day crossing a cabin is optional.
Which ferry is the cheapest?
That depends on your date and on how many people share a cabin. Book early: on our DFDS crossing the same trip cost more than double a few months after we booked.