Ferry from Edinburgh to Amsterdam
Scotland lost its own continental ferry years ago, but Edinburgh travellers still have a genuinely good option: the DFDS overnight crossing from Newcastle, whose terminal is only around two hours’ drive down the A1. Sail in the evening, sleep in a cabin, and dock at IJmuiden with Amsterdam half an hour away. Door to door it competes surprisingly well with flying once luggage, airport time and city transfers are counted honestly.
Routes
Our experience
In our experience, this is the most enjoyable ferry crossing to the Netherlands. It feels like part of the holiday rather than simply a means of transport and is also popular as a mini-cruise. The only drawback is that it leaves you slightly farther from many Dutch destinations than some of the other available routes.
Our experience
We found this to be a pleasant and relaxed crossing with a well-timed schedule. It is particularly well suited to travellers with a car, campervan or motorcycle, as onward travel options for foot passengers are somewhat limited from the arrival port.
Ferry services from Edinburgh to Amsterdam
DFDS sails daily from Newcastle (North Shields) to IJmuiden, departing late afternoon and arriving the next morning; every fare includes a cabin. The terminal is around 120 miles from Edinburgh via the A1, or reachable by train to Newcastle plus a short taxi or metro-and-bus connection.
Map with suggested Edinburgh – Amsterdam ferry routes
This map shows ferry routes from Edinburgh to Amsterdam, 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.
Onboard experience
At around 16 hours this is the longest crossing to the Netherlands, and it wears it well: dinner, a film or the bar, a night’s sleep, and the Dutch locks at IJmuiden in the morning. For Scottish travellers it turns what would be a punishing drive to the southern ports into a journey that starts relaxing the moment you park on the car deck.
Photos from the journey
Amsterdam via IJmuiden
The ship arrives at IJmuiden, around 20 miles west of Amsterdam. Drivers reach the city in 30 to 40 minutes via the A9; foot passengers can book the DFDS coach, which runs from the quayside to Amsterdam Central Station after each arrival.
By car
From Edinburgh, the A1 south to North Shields is the only driving England asks of you: about two hours, best done with time to spare before the late-afternoon check-in. On the Dutch side you skip the entire cross-country drive; Amsterdam’s ring road is 30 minutes from the ramp, with the morning rush the only thing worth planning around.
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By campervan
Many travellers from Scotland use the Newcastle route and head directly towards Amsterdam after arrival in IJmuiden.
Frequently asked questions
How can I get a boat to Amsterdam from Scotland?
No ferry sails from Scotland itself, the nearest crossing is the DFDS overnight boat from Newcastle, around two hours down the A1 from Edinburgh. It lands at IJmuiden, twenty miles from Amsterdam, with a connecting coach to Amsterdam Central.
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.