Ferries from London to the Netherlands
London is within easy reach of both Harwich and Dover. Depending on your destination, travellers can choose between a direct ferry to the Netherlands from Harwich or a Channel crossing via France. For Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague, the Harwich–Hook of Holland route is often the most direct option.
Routes
Our experience
The daytime crossing takes up a large part of the day, but it is often one of the more affordable options available. Budget-friendly cabins are frequently offered, giving you a private space to relax during the journey.
Our experience
A comfortable overnight crossing on large ferries. The sailing is long enough to get some rest while still arriving in the Netherlands early in the morning. Thanks to excellent rail and public transport connections, it is also a popular choice among foot passengers and cyclists.
Our experience
We’ve travelled on every ferry route between Dover and the continent ourselves. We were particularly impressed by P&O Ferries thanks to its competitive fares, modern ships, clean facilities and spacious outdoor decks. For many travellers heading to the Netherlands, this is often the fastest and most affordable option.
Ferry services from London to the Netherlands
Travellers from London generally choose between Harwich–Hook of Holland and the Channel crossings from Dover. Harwich offers the only direct ferry route from southeast England to the Netherlands.
Map with suggested London – the Netherlands ferry routes
This map shows ferry routes from London to the Netherlands, with crossing times, fares and the ports they sail from. Tap a route for details, tap a port for its sailings, or zoom in for more.
Photos from the journey
By car
If you’re travelling from London to Rotterdam, the choice comes down to speed against arrival point. The Dover route is significantly quicker overall, but the Harwich ferry has the advantage of bringing you much closer to your destination after arrival.
| London → Rotterdam | Via Dover | Via Harwich |
|---|---|---|
| Drive to port | 2h | 2h |
| Ferry crossing | 1h 30m | 6h 45m |
| Drive after arrival | 3h 30m | 30m |
| Total | ~7h | ~9h 15m |
Utrecht sits almost in the middle of the Netherlands, making it a popular destination for both business and leisure travellers. While the Dover route remains faster on paper, Harwich reduces the amount of driving once you’re on the continent.
| London → Utrecht | Via Dover | Via Harwich |
|---|---|---|
| Drive to port | 2h | 2h |
| Ferry crossing | 1h 30m | 6h 45m |
| Drive after arrival | 3h 45m | 55m |
| Total | ~7h 15m | ~9h 40m |
Amsterdam is the destination where the difference becomes most noticeable. Travellers using Dover benefit from a much shorter ferry crossing, while those sailing from Harwich spend more time at sea but considerably less time driving through mainland Europe.
| London → Amsterdam | Via Dover | Via Harwich |
|---|---|---|
| Drive to port | 2h | 2h |
| Ferry crossing | 1h 30m | 6h 45m |
| Drive after arrival | 4h 30m | 1h 15m |
| Total | ~8h | ~10h |
Of course, these figures only tell part of the story. Many travellers choose the Harwich route because it offers both daytime and overnight sailings, allowing you to arrive in the Netherlands well-rested rather than facing several hours of driving after crossing the Channel.
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Still weighing up your options?
We are a Dutch team and we have made all three direct crossings ourselves, and the photos on this site are our own. Tell us where you are starting and we will point you to the smartest way across.